Swiss public open to closer ties with EU, survey says
Flagging: Efforts to break the diplomatic deadlock between Switzerland and the EU have come to nothing
Keystone / Martin Ruetschi
The Swiss are more open than expected to aligning themselves closer with the European Union via measures that go beyond the current bilateral agreements – provided they are accompanied by safeguards, according to a study.
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Suíços querem estreitar laços com a UE, diz pesquisa
Even an updated agreement on free movement would have a chance, said the survey of 4,349 people throughout Switzerland conducted by the University of St Gallen in spring.
The results, published on Thursday, revealed that the Swiss consider job protection to be of central importance in a possible agreement with the EU.
Respondents were more willing to compromise regarding wage protection. If they were clearly informed about the issues at stake, the Swiss would be willing to go further than the red line they had set for themselves until now, reckoned the study’s leader, political scientist Tina Freyburg.
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Why is Switzerland not in the European Union?
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From money to direct democracy: we look at some of the main reasons behind Switzerland’s decision not to join the 27-nation bloc.
What’s more, it turns out that respondents thought “pragmatic and proportionate accompanying measures” would not be incompatible with EU regulations. Freyburg believed that a draft agreement would stand a chance if it were presented to the Swiss people.
In 2021 Switzerland unilaterally broke off negotiations on a framework deal to replace the more than 120 bilateral accords which have regulated relations for the past decades. That led to a souring of relations between Bern and Brussels. Efforts to break the diplomatic deadlock have come to nothing.
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Diplomatic efforts fail to break Swiss-EU deadlock
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Switzerland no closer to regaining full access to EU science and education projects, despite a further round of exploratory talks.
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Plant-based meat market in Switzerland set to grow to CHF361 million by 2030
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Switzerland’s market for plant-based meat alternatives has a potential value of around CHF 242 million this year, though it remains a niche market.
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Fewer attacks on Swiss ATMs but their future remains uncertain
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Bank ATMs in Switzerland are less prone to attacks by criminals, but their future remains uncertain given the less active use of cash by the population.
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Arosa Bergbahnen achieved the highest figure in its 95-year history in the 2024/25 financial year with net revenue of CHF 37 million. Arosa Lenzerheide was able to capitalise on strengths such as snow reliability and the size of the ski area in a long winter season, the company announced on Thursday.
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Citing “substantial differences”, the government has decided not to move ahead with a controversial institutional agreement on relations with the EU.
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