Mario Gattiker is to lead the Swiss negotiating team with EU
Keystone
The government has put forward a formal proposal to begin negotiations with the European Union on adapting the free movement of people accord following February’s nationwide vote curbing immigration.
This content was published on
1 minute
Urs Geiser, swissinfo.ch
The aim of the talks is to re-introduce immigration quotas while respecting the needs of the Swiss economy and to maintain a set of bilateral treaties with Brussels, according to a joint statement by the justice, foreign and economics ministries.
It is in line with a government decision issued in June.
The Swiss negotiating team is to be led by Mario Gattiker of the Federal Migration Office assisted by Henri Gétaz of the Directorate for European Affairs, a unit of the foreign ministry.
The draft mandate will now be sent to the parliamentary foreign policy committees, the country’s 26 cantons, as well as the business community and trade unions for consultation.
Brussels: No
In July, the EU said the principle of the free movement of people was not negotiable. The EU Commission rejected any talks on re-introducing immigration quotas.
This position was reiterated by a spokeswoman in Brussels on Wednesday.
The government has until 2017 to implement a voter decision to curb immigration. The accord on the free movement of people, which came into force in 2002 is directly linked to a package of other bilateral treaties on trade, transport and research.
The 28-nation EU is Switzerland’s main trading partner.
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.
Read more
More
Swiss confirm EU’s key decision on free movement
This content was published on
Bern has acknowledged receipt of a significant letter in which the European Union states that it will not renegotiate the free movement of people agreement with Switzerland. It comes after the Swiss population voted in favour of an initiative to limit EU immigration. Media outlets had reported the EU’s unanimous decision on Thursday. But an…
This content was published on
Switzerland has officially submitted a request to the European Union to adjust the terms of the free movement of people accord, which was made necessary after Swiss voters in February opted to limit immigration from the 28-nation EU.
Immigration vote: businesses fear lack of skilled workers
This content was published on
In February, 50.3% of Swiss voters approved a proposal by the rightwing Swiss People’s Party to re-introduce immigration quotas for EU citizens, as well as a national preference when filling job vacancies. It also stipulates that Switzerland will have to renegotiate its bilateral accord with the EU on the free movement of people within three…
This content was published on
The law will set immigration quotas, as voters accepted in February, but softer rules for EU citizens may reduce retaliatory measures from Brussels and big neighbours such as Germany and France. Switzerland is not part of the EU but has signed agreements with the 28-nation bloc, including on free movement of labour, partly to ensure…
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.