Swiss President Guy Parmelin
Swiss President Guy Parmelin supports an AI governance framework that does not rely on a single tool and calls for community standards to guide users. Excerpts from an interview with TOI:How should countries deal with… Regulating artificial intelligence? Is there a need for a new agency? Will regulatory setup stifle innovation and AI development, but how do you deal with challenges like deepfakes?Over the past two hundred years, humanity has created thousands of legal, technical and societal rules to “regulate” the development and use of engines in a large number of different machines and vehicles, with varying levels of coordination, based on the specific context of use.
Like engines, we also believe that AI cannot be “regulated” by a single tool, but will need to develop a governance framework consisting of many tools to cover different aspects of AI development and use.
Switzerland therefore actively contributes to the development of technical standards for artificial intelligence, and binding and non-binding legal instruments, such as the UNESCO recommendations or the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) and the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, which was drawn up between 55 countries from all over the world and is the first binding international treaty on artificial intelligence.
But we also need societal and cultural norms to guide us when using AI in our specific contexts.Switzerland holds the presidency of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for the third time this year. In this capacity, what do you propose to do to end the Russian-Ukrainian conflict? Also, what do you think of India’s efforts to reach out to both sides for a ceasefire and a return to dialogue and diplomacy?Within the framework of the first priority of its OSCE presidency (“Helsinki Principles – for lasting peace”), Switzerland is committed to a just peace in Ukraine, on the basis of international law and the Helsinki Principles. As the current Chairman of the OSCE, Federal Chancellor Ignazio Cassis visited Kiev (2 February) and Moscow (5-6 February) with the OSCE Secretary General to present the dialogue and ensure that all relevant actors know what the OSCE can contribute in the context of a negotiated settlement.
Ultimately, it is up to the United States to decide whether to benefit from it or not.Last year was turbulent for trade? How much support have trade agreements like the one with India provided?Free trade agreements such as the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) are an important tool, especially in difficult times for trade policy. It enables the Swiss export industry to access new markets and diversify. This would strengthen Switzerland’s position as a business location and enhance its ability to generate added value, create new jobs, and maintain existing jobs.Given the unilateral tariff actions of the past 10 months, what is the way forward when the WTO powers are completely undermined and there is a rush for bilateral trade agreements around the world?The WTO has long been under intense pressure, but despite institutional paralysis, about 74% of global trade remains on most-favored-nation terms, underscoring the continued importance of the system. It remains the only global institution that monitors members’ trade measures and provides a permanent forum for dialogue among 166 economies. In the context of growing tensions and challenges to established rules, Switzerland will continue to champion multilateralism and support WTO reform to preserve rules-based trade.
This view is widely shared by WTO members: they have repeatedly indicated their strong willingness to engage in real reform, especially in light of the Fourteenth WTO Ministerial Conference.The world order is changing, whether it is about trade, arms control, or countries threatening or attacking others. Where are things headed, is this a transitional phase?The international system is undergoing a profound and far-reaching transformation. Democracy is under pressure around the world. Tariffs are being raised, trade agreements are being dismantled, and international rules are being ignored. It is not the rule of law that prevails, but the rule of force.
Common solutions are pushed aside by unilateral action. Great powers assert their interests, and some wage wars to restore old empires. So, today we are at a turning point.
A turning point between progress and regression, between global cooperation and geopolitical competition. Between democratic renewal and authoritarian setback. We must actively shape this transformation. In this context, Switzerland is keen to diversify and deepen its relations with democratic partners such as India, who are supporters of international law and the rules-based international order and who enjoy great global influence and reach.Some believe that concerns about immigration are exaggerated and that there is a need to urge people to help at a time when Europe’s population is declining. But immigrants come with their own challenges, especially adjustment problems and backlash. How do you balance the two when you’re seeing a backlash against certain immigrant groups?Switzerland recognizes that human mobility is a global phenomenon. People have always moved in response to economic, social, political, security and environmental challenges, in search of opportunity and/or safety. Fair, regular and safe migration can be an engine for sustainable development, economic resilience, growth and prosperity for both countries of origin and destination. However, unsafe and irregular migration poses risks and challenges, especially for young people and women.
Switzerland – as a small but highly globalized country – has a strong interest in having an international migration management system that addresses the risks associated with unsafe migration and forced displacement while capturing the benefits of migration for the economy and people. To confront challenges but also to take advantage of opportunities, Switzerland’s foreign policy on migration is characterized by a partnership approach with countries of origin, transit and destination.
