Immigration to switzerland to become difficult?

[archigabe]

There is tension in the air, says first black MP as Swiss take a turn to the right
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/w ... 719688.ece

[quote]The first black MP in Switzerland said yesterday he was worried about the direction of his country after an election that was won by a right-wing party with a strident antiimmigration message.But Ueli Maurer, the SVP president, said that its increased support gave the party approval to rule out talks on joining or even cooperating further with the European Union. “The idea of EU accession should at last get out of everyone’s heads,â€

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

It is interesting.

Much of the migration to the UK and Ireland is coming from people from other parts of the EU and their spouses. I suspect that is also true in Switzerland (I know of at least one dutch couple that has recently moved there).

Much as the politicians say they want to restrict immigration, there is not much they can do with this immigration from other member states.

[archigabe]

Yes, Switzerland is currently part of the EEA and so has certain treaty rights for it's citizens with the E.U and vice versa .

[flyboy]

Archigabe, Switzerland is not part of the EEA, but part of EFTA. It has concluded a number of bilateral agreements with the EU, of which any could be brought to an end in a nationwide referendum. For instance, in 2009, there is an optional referendum, on whether to continue the free movement of persons agreement between the EU and Switzerland. So whichever party here in Switzerland don't want any further ties with the EU, could collect the needed signatures to put it to a nationwide vote in 2009.