“The Le Prese Summit” had barely attracted attention anywhere in advance. Only a few had expected the working discussion between the governments of Grisons and Lombardy that it would lead to concrete results. But the meeting was tough.
When larger government delegations come together, they usually sign already negotiated contracts and exchange friendships in public. Depending on the importance of the other country, a delegation is equipped with more or less important personalities.
Looking at the size, Grisons is a true dwarf next to Lombardy: Almost 10 million inhabitants and a highly efficient economy make the region the fourth-largest economy in Europe. In addition, Graubünden, with its population of less than 200,000, is truly tiny.
Nevertheless, a high-caliber and very well-prepared delegation arrived from Milan with thick dossiers: The President of Parliament, the Vice-President of the Region and a number of important Commissioners and chief officials brought over 200 pages of documentation to the negotiating table. They had prepared themselves well.
The talks did not remain superficial: The guests from Italy had brought with them specific questions and suggestions on the economy, transport, health and safety and were very engaged in discussions with the Graubünden side. Working groups were also decided on a number of topics, which should push ahead with specific projects.
The fact that the major European economic power Lombardy is visiting its small neighbour is more than just a gesture of goodwill: The talks took place on equal terms and showed that Milan and Sondrio are genuinely interested in cooperation with Chur and Poschiavo.
In the constantly growing but also constantly struggling European Union, more and more regions are doing what they did before the creation of the unified internal market: They are once again more interested in their immediate neighbours, because they understand them.
The Lombard delegation left a strong impression on me: Our neighbours have a genuine interest in cooperating with us. They respect the specific Swiss situation, even though referendums such as a mass immigration initiative do not exactly make us a more attractive negotiating partner in their eyes.
Over long stretches of conversation, I had the feeling that the Lombards understood us better than many other confederates. Understandable: They are closer to us, speak our language in a direct and figurative sense and they are in a similar situation to us in Italy. The politics of their country and the EU do not always make them feel understood when it comes to important issues. Concerns from Milan or Sondrio are heard little or no at all in the cacophony of Italian daily politics.
What the people of Basel, Schaffhausen and Thurgau have been showing us for a long time with the “big canton” in the north should be an example for us: Whether in politics or in business, as Graubünden, and especially as South Graubünden, we would do well not to lose sight of Lombardy.
Instead of waiting for Bern and wondering about a lack of listening to music for our concerns, we should seek cooperation with our neighbors and actively cultivate relationships. Lombardy is our big neighboring canton.
This column appeared in the Engadiner Post from September 30, 2014.
Alessandro Della Vedova
is Vice President of CVP Grisons, Grand Council of the Poschiavo District and Podestà of the Municipality of Poschiavo. He is an Italian-Swiss dual citizen and worked in Milan for many years.