Anti-EU immigration proposal would damage prosperity, government says
Karin Keller-Sutter on Tuesday in Bern. Voters will have the final say on May 17.
Keystone / Anthony Anex
Voting “yes” to a right-wing proposal to limit immigration from the European Union (EU) would have dire consequences for Bern-Brussels relations, the government has said.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/Reuters/dos
العربية
ar
“مبادرة الحد من الهجرة من الاتحاد الأوروبي تضرّ بالإزدهار في البلاد”
Two days after the latest nationwide votes, attention turns to the next ballots in May, which include a proposal by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party to take full national control of immigration.
The initiative, which reflects worries among some Swiss about immigration in general, demands that the government scrap the freedom of movement agreement with the EU within a year.
On Tuesday Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter said this was unrealistic and the impossibility of finding an alternative agreement with Brussels would adversely affect the entire set of bilateral accords that regulate relations between Switzerland and Europe.
These 120 bilateral pacts cover various aspects of economic and political cooperation from agriculture to industrial standards. Keller-Sutter said scrapping them would have negative consequences for Switzerland’s exports, which depend heavily on the European market.
She also said that rejecting free movement could mean the end of Switzerland’s participation in the Schengen system of passport-free travel, as well as the Dublin system of handling asylum requests.
“This is a pure gamble, a leap into the unknown – it’s irresponsible,” she said.
Tricky relations
The vote comes at a difficult time for the government, which has been trying to come to an agreement with Brussels to replace the bilateral accords with an over-arching “framework deal” that would simplify relations.
Slow progress on these negotiations reflects domestic scepticism about Swiss-EU relations, which has also been a key battle-horse of the anti-EU People’s Party.
The People’s Party warns that “uncontrolled” immigration could raise the Swiss population to ten million from the current 8.5 million, with further pressure on infrastructure and the environment. It also says free movement of people encourages employers to recruit foreigners at cheap rates rather than Swiss people.
In 2014 a vote that was narrowly accepted similarly demanded that the government control immigration from Europe, a demand for which authorities found various “softer” solutions, including measures to give priority to Swiss residents in the job market.
Last September the House of Representatives came out against the current initiative by 123 votes to 63. Voters will have the final say on May 17.
What factors should be taken into account when inheriting Swiss citizenship abroad?
Should there be a limit to the passing on of Swiss citizenship? Or is the current practice too strict and it should still be possible to register after the age of 25?
Is your place of origin, your Heimatort, important to you?
Every Swiss citizen has a Heimatort, a place of origin, but many have never visited theirs. What’s your relationship with your Heimatort? What does it mean to you?
Swiss federal prosecutor bemoans shortage of investigators
This content was published on
The Swiss Office of the Attorney General complains of unresolved shortage of investigators that hinder its efforts to prosecute serious criminals.
ECHR condemns Swiss failure to protect woman from violence
This content was published on
Switzerland did not provide a woman with sufficient protection against her partner who had been violent in the past, rules the ECHR.
This content was published on
In Switzerland, 2.2 million people are affected by non-communicable diseases, partly because people are not eating a balanced diet.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Former Swiss diplomat proposes interim deal with EU
This content was published on
Switzerland and the EU should sign an interim agreement to try to save the stalled framework partnership accord, says a former Swiss diplomat.
Swiss unions call for ‘social agenda’ in EU relations
This content was published on
Switzerland’s biggest trade union group has repeated its warning that any deal reached with the EU must protect wages from cross-border competition.
This content was published on
Over two-thirds of Swiss firms support the framework agreement that has been negotiated over the past five years with the EU.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.