Swiss voters adopt extension of the “free movement of persons” to Romania/Bulgaria

Today, Swiss voters adopted in a referendum (popular vote) with a 59.6% majority the extension of the so-called "free movement of persons” principle to Bulgaria and Romania, which acceded to the EU in 2007. The turnout was 51% which is slightly higher than usual. The “yes”-outcome was clearer than expected as European issues are usually controversial in Switzerland and given the current economic crisis it was expected that fears would weight in even more on the “no”-side. Only in four of 26 cantons (states) in Switzerland, there was a no-majority. Compared to earlier referenda on foreign affairs, this time there was no division between the language communities/cantons in Switzerland.

Switzerland adopted the “free movement of persons”, which exists within the EU, with the EU-15 (as the union consisted of 15 member states) in 2000 and subsequently extended it to the ten new EU members in 2005 (after the EU enlargement in 2004). As Romania and Bulgaria became EU member states, another extension was necessary, but among the public very controversial, given the sizeable income disparities between Switzerland and Rumania/Bulgaria.

The “free movement of persons” means that all citizens, disregarding their nationality, can migrate freely in the member countries, can work and study without the need for getting permissions/visas etc. and can settle where they want. According to several studies, this principle has substantially contributed to the EU’s and Switzerland’s economic growth (i.e. up to 1 percentage point) in the last few years and has increased the competitiveness and flexibility of the (common) labor market.

The issue was subject to a vote in Switzerland due to a popular referendum (i.e. support of 50’000 citizens required) taken by right-wing political forces, after the federal parliament has passed the bill. The “popular referendum” is one of several so-called “direct-democratic” instruments (besides the “mandatory referendum” and the “initiative”).

The issue and the related campaign prior to the vote were hugely controversial. A group of parties from the left to the center right together with the business federation and labor unions has fought in favor of the issue, while some right-wing parties with affiliated interest groups have fought against it. Proponents emphasized the importance of the bill for the economy while opponents argued an adoption of the issue would lead to more economic migration, lower salaries, more jobless, more crime and loss of sovereignty.

With this vote, Switzerland remains the only country in Europe whose citizens have repeatedly voted in favor of EU issues, and in particular on such emotional issues like migration/labor market topics, in the last 15 years. Most EU countries do not have referendums and thus their parliaments ratified “free movement of persons”-related bills.

The Swiss vote this Sunday is the last step in a row of popular votes on European issues and confirmed the bilateral relations between the EU and Switzerland, as the latter choose not to accede to the EU (or EC).


For more information:
Adrian Ineichen
adrian.i@gmx.ch
202-550-1466 (USA)


For further information:
http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/schweiz/klares_ja_zur_personenfreizuegigkeit_1.1935829.html
in German (NZZ is the leading Swiss newspaper)

http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/internal_affairs/Swiss_say_yes_to_EU_labour_accord.html?siteSect=1511&sid=10301524&cKey=1234106327000&ty=st
in English (Swissinfo is a government-funded news channel)