PODCAST “Behind the Headline”
Switzerland vs. EU: Who decides on our immigration?
Switzerland is demanding a protective clause from the European Union with the aim of reducing the immigration of EU citizens to Switzerland. Of course, this wish is met with little enthusiasm in Brussels. Why can’t we find a common denominator here?
“Behind the headline”
Episode 124
Switzerland vs. EU: Who decides on our immigration?
Switzerland is an attractive country. This is also reflected in the fact that many EU citizens enjoy living and working here. However, official Switzerland is calling for a limit on how many people are allowed to immigrate from EU countries each year. The problem: With this demand, Switzerland is questioning one of the most important cornerstones of our bilateral agreements with the EU – the free movement of people.
“It’s our own fault that so many people want to come to us,” says Stefan Schmid, editor-in-chief of the St.Galler Tagblatt. “Many cantons create extremely attractive conditions for international companies and benefit from them. If we see it as a problem that so many people come to us, we should stop creating such incentives.”
What exactly is official Switzerland demanding in Brussels? Why are the negotiations doomed to failure? And what if Switzerland and the EU don’t agree on an agreement by the end of the year?
