About: EU-Switzerland Agreement
EU-Swiss treaty ‘dead as doornail’ as labour boycotts talks
Switzerland's plan to forge a new treaty cementing ties with the European Union has hit the rocks after the normally pro-Europe centre left joined the far right in resisting a deal that Swiss labour unions say might undermine wages and working conditions.
Swiss to revisit talks on full treaty with EU after summer break
Switzerland said on Wednesday (4 July) it had put further talks on a new treaty governing relations with the European Union, including sensitive labour market rules, on hold until after the summer break.
Most Swiss back plan for new treaty with EU
Most Swiss support the government's plan to forge a new treaty with the European Union that would have arbitration panels to help settle disputes, a poll published on Sunday (29 April) showed.
Swiss see no quick deal on new EU treaty
Switzerland will not meet the European Commission's deadline for a deal in the early part of this year on a new treaty that would bind the neutral country more closely to its biggest trading partner, new Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said.
Juncker hails progress in EU-Swiss relations after immigration law
The European Commission on Thursday (22 December) welcomed progress in relations between the EU and Switzerland after Bern avoided a clash with Brussels by passing an immigration law that does not impose outright quotas.
Post-Brexit UK will broker Swiss-style deal with EU, investors say
Once the United Kingdom has left the EU, it will most likely implement a bilateral ‘Swiss model’, according to a survey of institutional investors, which also showed financial passporting rights are of greater concern to them than restrictions on immigration.
Commission deplores Swiss canton referendum
The Italian-speaking Swiss canton of Ticino voted decisively yesterday (25 September) in favour of tougher controls on foreign workers. The European Commission deplored this development, which arrives at a time when a solution is sought to keep alive the EU-Switzerland Free Movement of Persons agreement.
Switzerland: London watches EU talks on migration closely
Switzerland's future agreement on free movement with the EU, depending on the form it takes, could offer the United Kingdom a precedent to lean on in its own Brexit negotiations, writes Strafor.
Brexit deal on EU migrants inspires Switzerland
A February deal allowing Britain to limit the free movement of workers coming from the European Union is giving ideas to the Swiss, who would like similar exceptions applied to their own relations with the 28 member bloc.
Swiss edge toward possible ‘Swexit’ from EU bilateral pacts
Switzerland threatened yesterday (4 December) to impose unilateral curbs on immigration should it fail to agree with the European Union on limiting the influx into a country where nearly a quarter of the population is foreign.
Steinmeier urges EU-Swiss talks on planned immigration quotas
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier yesterday (17 August) urged the European Union to negotiate with Switzerland on Bern's plans for new quotas on immigration from the bloc.![[EU Council Eurozone/Flickr]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/05/moscovici_press_conference_crediteu_council_eurozone_flickr.jpeg)
EU-Swiss accord to end banking secrecy, curb tax evasion
The European Union and Switzerland signed a major accord on Wednesday (27 May) to end banking secrecy for EU residents and prevent them from stashing undeclared income in Swiss banks.
EU relations to be put to Swiss voters again, president says
Swiss voters will have another say on relations with the European Union, Switzerland's president said on Thursday, after valuable trade treaties with the bloc were put in jeopardy by a February referendum to curb immigration.![Swiss-Italy border. [Warrenski/Flickr].](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/07/swiss-italy_border_crossing_warrenski_flickr.jpeg)
EU immigration into Switzerland hit record high before voter backlash
More immigrants from the European Union entered Switzerland than ever before in 2013, the year before Swiss voters put their country at odds with Brussels by backing a cap on immigration from the bloc. VideoPromoted content
Barroso criticises Switzerland after anti-immigration vote
European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso warned Switzerland on Thursday that it risks loosing access to the European single market if it continues with plans to restrict EU immigration. Barroso's comments came after the Swiss government said on Wednesday it will draft legislation to limit immigration by the end of the year.
Switzerland to table immigration quota law by yearend
The Swiss government said today (12 February) it would draw up a draft law to limit immigration by the end of the year, after Swiss voters narrowly backed proposals to curtail the number of migrants from the European Union. VideoPromoted content
Commission: We don’t understand Switzerland’s discriminatory approach to immigration
After Switzerland announced it will organise a controversial referendum on migration quotas, the European Commission said on Tuesday that they don't fully understand the discriminatory approach'.
Business groups urge Swiss to reject migration quotas in referendum
Swiss business groups rallied together on Monday (6 January) to reject a proposal to re-impose quotas on immigrants from European Union countries, warning the measure would exacerbate a shortage of skilled workers and damage firms' competitiveness.
EU-Switzerland relations
Switzerland is the third largest economic partner of the EU, after the USA and China. Switzerland is able to participate in the EU's single market thanks to a series of bilateral agreements. This approach suits the Swiss confederation, but its complexity has become problematic for the EU and attempts are now under way to simplify the relationship.