One year after breaking off talks to restructure Switzerland’s agreements with Brussels, the leaders of Switzerland’s Socialist Party have put forward a plan on how Switzerland could eventually join the EU, reports RTS. A 32-page document sets out a strategy that unites the party on the issue, something that has divided it for many years. […]
Swiss parliament votes to pay billion to EU
On 30 September 2021, Switzerland’s parliament voted to release a CHF 1.3 billion payment to the EU with no strings attached, reported RTS. The parliamentary voting result of 131 to 55 in favour with 1 abstention, which followed an intense two-hour debate, allows the payment to be made. The vote follows a vote on the […]
Switzerland moves closer to paying second 1 billion to EU
After Switzerland ended talks with the EU on an institutional framework agreement aimed at replacing the country’s current patchwork of agreements with the bloc in May 2021, some in government have been focused on how to keep the EU on side. One obvious way to curry favour is to make the second 1 billion EU […]
Switzerland’s patchwork of EU deals and their history – at a glance
First trade Back in 1972 Switzerland agreed a free trade deal with the EU. The deal, which came into force the following year, removed duties and quotas from industrial products. In 1973 the EU was a far smaller club than today, Britain, Ireland and Denmark had just joined bringing the number of members to nine. Today there are […]
Switzerland withdraws its application for EU membership
Back in the days when mobile phones looked like the one pictured below, the Swiss voted on whether to join the EEA (European Economic Area), a precursor to EU membership. On 6 December 1992, 78.9% of Swiss voters turned out to vote, the highest turnout seen in Switzerland over the last 45 years. The traditional voting divide between French […]
Swiss cabinet member walks out over immigration clash
24 Heures. Last week Swiss federal councillor Simonetta Sommaruga walked out of parliament after being harshly criticised by members of the Swiss people’s party (UDC/SVP) during a debate about extending the free movement of people to Croatia. Under the terms of the European Union agreement on the free movement of people, Switzerland is required to […]
