Monday

11th Dec 2023

EU eyes 'specific' Swiss deal on migrants

  • Juncker: "We have Britain in mind, because these questions are interlinked" (Photo: EUobserver)

The European Commission is “OK” to make a “Swiss-specific” pact on immigration, even if it has an impact on upcoming talks with the UK.

The commission head, Jean-Claude Juncker, issued the comment after a meeting with Swiss president Johann Schneider-Ammann in Zurich on Monday (19 September).

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

“We’ve moved closer on some points. That the [Swiss] government wants to privilege Swiss employees on the job market is OK for me if it takes in the framework of mutual recognition”, he said, referring to the "mutual" pact that governed EU-Swiss relations. “This will be possible without a doubt”.

The talks come after Switzerland, in a referendum in 2014, rejected EU free movement putting in jeopardy the country’s access to the single market.

A parliament panel later rejected the idea of imposing unilateral quotas on EU workers, with the lower house, on Wednesday to look at the job “privilege” proposal for Swiss residents instead.

Juncker did not give further details on what the deal would look like.

But he said he was “more optimistic” than in recent weeks and that the talks were moving in “the right direction” on what he called a “Swiss-specific arrangement”.

He noted that, during the Swiss negotiations, “we have Britain in mind, because these questions are interlinked”. He also said that Brexit was “another element adding to the difficult issues we have to discuss with our Swiss friends”.

The UK, which is expected to start talks on the terms of its EU exit next year, has said it wanted a “unique” deal that would allow it to impose immigration controls while keeping access to the EU market.

But most EU politicians, including Juncker himself, have so far insisted on full access for EU workers in return for the market perks for fear of creating a precedent for other eurosceptic member states.

Meanwhile, Switzerland's Schneider-Ammann also sounded a positive note on EU relations on Monday, saying: “We need a solution that both sides can say ‘Yes’ to. I’m confident that we can do it”.

He added that he was concerned that Swiss firms and institutes would lose access to the EU’s Horizon 2020 scientific research grants if there was no accord.

EU urges Swiss to move on talks or face sanction

The EU commission tells Switzerland that clarifications to the draft deal are possible - but not renegotiations. The message is clear to 'Brexit' Britain as well: the Swiss model is over, there are no special agreements.

EU and Switzerland agree on free movement

EU states approved a new Swiss law that will allow EU citizens to work freely in Switzerland despite a 2014 referendum on immigration quotas.

EU's 'do no harm' Libya policy hit by militia revelations

The European Commission's self-declared policy of not doing any harm in Libya appears increasingly strained, following reports Frontex collaborated with the Tariq Bin Zeyad Brigade — a Libyan militia with ties to the Russian mercenary group Wagner.

Latest News

  1. EU's 'do no harm' Libya policy hit by militia revelations
  2. Final fight over oil and gas phase-out at COP28 looms
  3. How EU must follow through on Iran womens' Sakharov prize
  4. COP28 focuses on EU failure to cut livestock emissions
  5. Final EU summit of 2023 plus rule of law in Spain This WEEK
  6. Why this week's EU summit must agree a new budget deal
  7. How Moldova is trying to control tuberculosis
  8. Many problems to solve in Dubai — honesty about them is good

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersJoin the Nordic Food Systems Takeover at COP28
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersHow women and men are affected differently by climate policy
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersArtist Jessie Kleemann at Nordic pavilion during UN climate summit COP28
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersCOP28: Gathering Nordic and global experts to put food and health on the agenda
  5. Friedrich Naumann FoundationPoems of Liberty – Call for Submission “Human Rights in Inhume War”: 250€ honorary fee for selected poems
  6. World BankWorld Bank report: How to create a future where the rewards of technology benefit all levels of society?

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us