Switzerland and the European Union are looking into an escape clause in bilateral economic accords that could let Berne curb admissions of EU workers in cases of severe economic and social disruption, officials said yesterday.
The neutral Alpine state threatened this month to impose unilateral curbs on immigration should it fail to agree with the EU on limiting the influx into a small country where nearly a quarter of the population is now foreign.
Switzerland and its most important trading partner have been gridlocked over how to implement a binding 2014 Swiss referendum in favour of immigration quotas that would violate a bilateral pact guaranteeing freedom of movement for EU citizens.
Engineered by the anti-immigration Swiss People’s Party, the referendum has jeopardised other Swiss-EU treaties that govern bilateral economic ties and stand or fall together.
Unilateral moves could lead the EU to scrap the entire package of bilateral accords, dealing a heavy blow to Swiss trade.
Both sides are examining a solution that would uphold Switzerland’s constitutional obligation to implement the referendum while maintaining the Free Movement of Persons act, the Swiss government said.
–(Reuters)