The Switzerland Fantasy

Swiss politicians these days receive many British visitors who want to know what it is like for a country to be European without having EU membership. At the same time, Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders says the Netherlands should quit the EU and be like Switzerland. 'Switzerland is the example', he said on RTL television in May 2014, praising the country’s sovereignty, immigration policies, direct democracy, and economic prosperity. And Germany’s far-right, anti-Islam Pegida movement repeatedly singles out Switzerland in its manifesto as an example to follow.

These politicians and political parties argue that all will be better if their countries pull out of the EU. They are wrong. Switzerland is essentially as dependent on Brussels as EU countries are. In fact, the Alpine country is losing as much sovereignty and democratic impact as EU members. The problem is not Brussels. It is globalization.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Switzerland and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/website-switzerland-integration-office-dfa-dea/

ESO: Background information: Swiss-EU talks find little room for negotiation http://www.europeansources.info/record/swiss-eu-talks-find-little-room-for-negotiation/

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