Swiss business wants closer EU ties
The Swiss Business Federation has repeated its call for the development of closer ties with the European Union.
Presenting a new report on Thursday, the Federation’s director, Rudolf Ramsauer, said Switzerland had gained much through a series of bilateral accords agreed with the EU. He said Swiss business would achieve around 80 per cent of its goals through them.
But Ramsauer said it would be a mistake to see the accords as the final word on Switzerland’s future relationship with the EU.
He said Switzerland should keep its options open including possible future membership of the Union.
But eventual entry into the EU would require wide-ranging reforms in the areas of finance and taxation.
The report said maintaining the status quo through the bilateral accords would eventually raise questions about taxation policy, border controls and transport.
It also questioned whether a third option of joining the European Economic Area would justify the costs of membership.
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