The Liberal Greens want Switzerland to reattempt to join the EEA agreement. The previous attempt was rejected by the Swiss people in 1992.
The party will table a motion next week to pressure the governing Federal Council to negotiate membership of the EEA, writes the SonntagsZeitung on Sunday.
“Since the Federal Council is not getting anywhere with the renegotiations of the framework agreement, a new version of the EEA would be the best and only promising option for putting relations with the EU back in order,” said party president Jürg Grossen.
A study revealed on Friday that 71% of Swiss would approve of joining the EEA today. The proposal of the Liberal Green Party is supported by politicians from the Social Democratic Party, the Greens and the Centre.
Switzerland is part of the European Union’s (EU) internal market but is not a member of the EU or the EEA.
How is your country dealing with the return of stolen artifacts?
Western nations like Switzerland often have to deal with the process of recovering or returning looted artifacts which have been illegally imported. What’s the situation like in your country?
What do you think Switzerland’s Alain Berset can bring to the Council of Europe?
The former interior minister is to become the first Swiss Secretary General of the Council of Europe – which issues should his five-year term focus on?
Swiss helicopter rescue pioneers safe autopilot approach system
This content was published on
Swiss air rescue company Rega has received approval for a new kind of instrument flight system for approaching a hospital.
Algerian to face trial in Switzerland for ties to Islamic State
This content was published on
A 51-year-old Algerian man has been charged by the Swiss Federal Prosecutor's Office for involvement in the banned terrorist group.
Sylvain Saudan, ‘skier of the impossible’, dies aged 87
This content was published on
The Swiss father of extreme skiing pioneered descents from the Alps to the Himalayas – and became the sport’s first star.
Hayek family buys additional Swatch shares for nearly CHF11 million
This content was published on
Following the acquisition of registered shares worth over CHF20.6 million on Monday, the Hayek family made another purchase on Tuesday.
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
The vote on European membership that ignited the Swiss People’s Party
This content was published on
Thirty years on, how do Swiss People's Party supporters view Switzerland’s decision not to join the European Economic Area (EEA)?
Why Switzerland doesn’t want to join the European Union
This content was published on
From money to direct democracy: we look at some of the main reasons behind Switzerland's decision not to join the 27-nation bloc.
A quarter-century of Switzerland’s special status in Europe
This content was published on
Some 25 years before Britons voted to leave the European Union, Swiss people cast their ballot in a similar vote with far-reaching implications.
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.