Switzerland wanted more immigration controls, but economic self-interest will probably prevail

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Series Details 15.05.18
Publication Date 15/05/2018
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In February 2014 the Swiss voted to curb the freedom of movement of people between their country and the EU. Faced with the threat of a breakdown in its bilateral agreements with the EU, the government implemented only minor changes.

The Swiss People’s Party responded in 2018 with the launch of a new popular initiative, this time explicitly targeting the agreement on the free movement of persons. Campaigners seeking to end Switzerland’s free movement of people agreement with the European Union handed in signatures in August 2018 to try to force a national vote on the issue.

With a further referendum vote in prospect, Pascal Sciarini (University of Geneva) argued that economic realism was likely to win out over the desire to control immigration.

Source Link http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/brexit/2018/05/15/switzerland-wanted-more-immigration-controls-but-economic-self-interest-will-probably-prevail/
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