Following a referendum on Switzerland concerning immigration, the authorities there have been struggling for three years to find a way to implement their mandate.
The Swiss president had been in negotiations with the EU for some time without reaching agreement until more talks were stalled by the sudden change in expectations that came with the Brexit vote.
In 2014, the Swiss narrowly approved a referendum calling for some form of quotas on free and unchecked immigration from EU countries. Migration from non-EU countries is already limited by Swiss law.
As is the case with referenda, it was legally binding and had to be implemented within three years.
But it put Switzerland on a collision course with the EU’s policy of freedom of movement. Although Switzerland is not a member, it has scores of bilateral agreements with the bloc on various matters, including one which guarantees free movement.
Parliamentarians in Switzerland earlier this week came up with a new proposal which it hopes might preserve its standing with the EU while going some way to meeting the referendum demand.
The so-called ‘light’ solution would give unemployed Swiss workers preference for jobs over people from the EU. Employers would be penalised for not advertising vacancies at job centres and inviting selected Swiss job seekers for interview.
This obligation would apply only for professions, job sectors or regions where unemployment is above average.
The new terms will have to be agreed by a final vote in the Swiss parliament on Friday. Although this is likely to pass, the looming question is if the EU Commission will deem it acceptable. Some fear Brussels may object on the grounds that it discriminates against EU nationals.
Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann will likely meet with EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in the coming weeks.
Both Switzerland and the EU have been put in a difficult position by the referendum. Not only is it Switzerland’s largest trading market, but the EU immediately blocked Swiss scientists and students from having full participation in several EU programmes because of the referendum result.
