Switzerland re-imposes curbs on EU workers

Switzerland announced on the 24 April 2013 that it was imposing quotas on work permits for EU citizens despite objections from the European Union.

The federal government said it would give just 2,180 five-year residency permits over the following 12 months to people from eight eastern European countries, such as Poland and Slovakia.

It was planning to give 53,700 permits to people from 17 remaining, wealthier EU counties. Bulgaria and Romania are covered by a separate migration regime until 2016.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background Information: Switzerland's implementation of EU legislation http://www.europeansources.info/record/switzerlands-implementation-of-eu-legislation/

ESO: Background Information: Germany welcomes immigrants from Europe’s South http://www.europeansources.info/record/germany-welcomes-immigrants-from-europes-south/

BBC News, 25.04.13: Switzerland to limit immigration from all EU states http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22285886

Neue Zürcher Zeitung / Le Temps, 25.04.13: Switzerland keeps door closed on Europeans (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/3722151-switzerland-keeps-door-closed-europeans

EurActiv, 25.04.13: Commission slams Swiss working restrictions http://www.euractiv.com/socialeurope/commission-slams-swiss-working-r-news-519352

European Commission: RAPID: Press Release, IP/13/370: Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the decision of the Swiss Government to apply quantitative restrictions to the free movement of EU citizens in Switzerland http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-370_en.pdf

SwissInfo.ch, 24.04.13: Swiss curb EU immigration http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss_news/Swiss_curb_EU_immigration.html?cid=35610566

Deutsche Welle, 24.04.13: Swiss announce plan to limit EU immigration http://dw.de/p/18Mx1

BBC News, 03.06.13: Switzerland enforces new quotas for EU workers http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22738774

---