Switzerland has blinked first in a standoff with the EU that mirrors the UK’s Brexit debate on the critical trade-off between free movement and a special trade deal with the bloc.
The Alpine republic voted narrowly to impose EU immigration quotas in a 2014 referendum that must be implemented by next February, but Brussels has said any cap would deny Switzerland its privileged access to the single market.
With talks between Bern and the EU commission due to resume on 19 September, Swiss ministers have welcomed a parliamentary panel’s plan to give preference to locals in job hires rather than impose unilateral quotas on foreigners.
It is not yet clear that the compromise, which must be debated by the full parliament, will win EU approval. But it represents at least a potential way out of the corner into which Switzerland has painted itself. Full story...
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The Alpine republic voted narrowly to impose EU immigration quotas in a 2014 referendum that must be implemented by next February, but Brussels has said any cap would deny Switzerland its privileged access to the single market.
With talks between Bern and the EU commission due to resume on 19 September, Swiss ministers have welcomed a parliamentary panel’s plan to give preference to locals in job hires rather than impose unilateral quotas on foreigners.
It is not yet clear that the compromise, which must be debated by the full parliament, will win EU approval. But it represents at least a potential way out of the corner into which Switzerland has painted itself. Full story...
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