Three days lasted Surf referendum in which the Swiss have decided to curb the influx of European workers and has put on a war footing to the European Union. The Swiss government has announced that they have already begun preliminary work to put in place laws should set quotas and criteria to decide who can work and reside in a country where a quarter of the workforce is foreign. The bill will be ready later this year, as announced by the Executive in a statement. Until then, free movement remain in force and allow European citizens to move and work in Switzerland.
The text of the referendum " against mass immigration " held on Sunday and approved by a majority of 50.3 % of the vote, granted up to three years to develop the legal authorities to negotiate with Brussels reform and the new rules governing relationships between them. The Swiss government statement that sets the legislative calendar indicates that work in parallel " to negotiate the agreement on free movement of persons [ with EU ] and to clarify the situation regarding other bilateral negotiations process."
The approval of the referendum has raised hackles in Brussels. Not only has dynamited the agreement on free movement of persons, in force since 2002 with Switzerland, but has also given wings to eurÃ_fobas forces inhabiting the Union and have been vindicated their aspirations in the Swiss query. The EU authorities have threatened to break some so-called bilateral agreements establishing cooperation with Switzerland. So far, several techniques have been canceled negotiations under both the power sector and in the field of research. Have also been suspended negotiations should outline the new institutional framework between Switzerland and the European Union aimed at widening the collaboration and allow new agreements in the future. In the Swiss political circles assumed that assertiveness expressed as a referendum will have serious consequences.
Employers, trade unions and foreign workers residing in the territory of most Swiss - million - mired in uncertainty await the resolution of a conflict that has caught the country by surprise. Insecurity is twofold. For one, the bill today is known to be ready by the end of the year should be defined. But on the other, is to see the new Swiss lace is with the European Union, its biggest trading partner. "We are very nervous," a Spanish worker in Geneva, waiting to receive their residence permit. "I just hope the new law caught us and give us the residence before we're waiting," says the young administrators who fear disclosing their identity as it affects future employment in Switzerland.
The Swiss government and much of the opposition as well as employers, opposed the referendum led extreme right, the UDC -SVP. The polls predicted a defeat for anti-immigration initiative almost to the last moment, so that the result has been a surprise even for its promoters. " Until Sunday, I thought we were going to lose. I'm still surprised, "reflects Luzi Stamm, vice president of the UDC -SVP. On Friday, the party has been able to empathize with the public and take her land present a proposal for how it should organize the quota system. Stamm, soul of the initiative, defends a similar system that had until 2002, by which workers would set quotas according to qualifications, industry and the Swiss canton where they wanted to live.
The entry of 80,000 foreign workers per year and the crisis gripping southern Europe have raised fears among many of the Swiss population, which has been seduced by the proposals of the UDC -SVP to restrict the entry of European work hand present and qualified in hospitals, schools and banks. They fear that hordes of Europeans fled their respective crises come to spoil the party, but also fear losing control of a country that takes pride in its independence and neutrality. They do not want anyone to come to Brussels or to impose its rules, as made ​​clear in the referendum. "There has been voted the right to decide one's home. Was a consultation on the role the EU should be in Switzerland, "says Guy Meltan, Democrat deputy in Geneva.
Tags: immigration, Law, Switzerland, yearend