The Swiss government announced on Wednesday that it seeks the ability to limit the free movement of people from the European Union if specific thresholds are surpassed in areas such as net immigration, the number of cross-border commuters, or reliance on social welfare.
Despite nationalist resistance over concerns about sovereignty, Switzerland agreed in December to enhance economic ties with the EU.
However, the agreement must still go through a lengthy ratification process, with immigration remaining one of the most contentious issues surrounding it.
At the core of the debate, and key to the government's strategy for gaining support for the agreement, is a proposed protective clause that would give Switzerland the option to limit immigration under specific conditions, Reuters news agency reports.
Beat Jans, the cabinet minister responsible for migration, stated at a press conference that the government intends to enshrine this clause in Swiss law. It would be activated if certain thresholds are met in areas such as net immigration from the EU, cross-border commuter numbers, unemployment, or reliance on social welfare.
“The protective clause is like the fire extinguisher on the wall. When there’s a fire, you’re glad to have it handy to quickly put out the fire before it causes damage,” he stated.
If Switzerland activates the protective clause, the issue would be referred to a joint Swiss-EU committee for resolution. Should the two sides fail to reach an agreement, Switzerland would then have the option to call upon an arbitration tribunal.
Switzerland, which is wealthier than its main EU trading partners and neighbours, has seen significant population growth in recent decades. This surge has fuelled calls, especially from right-wing parties, for tighter immigration controls.
Speaking alongside Jans, State Secretary for Migration Vincenzo Mascioli stated that, based on the government's proposed model, Switzerland would have had grounds to consider triggering the protective clause on eight occasions since 2002.