Would Switzerland benifit from joining the European Union?

Question

I know the politicians want to join but so far the people keep voting no.

Answer 1

when Switzerland didn't join the EU at the beginning (when only 'the developed' country were members)... I don't think Swiss will be willing to join now... with so many additional members...

I think there are two main reasons why Swiss don't want to join... I think they believe it's going to 'cost them' to be in the EU and probably they are concerned about their labor market...

Answer 2

Switzerland has more influence in Brussels by NOT being a member. If CH were a member, it would be just another small country, albeit a wealthy one. But right now the EU has to relate to CH as a peer.

Also, the Swiss are far more integrated already with Europe-at-Large than the Central European EU-Members. Virtually every treaty, commission, environmental accord -- the Swiss are already members.

Answer 3

no. Switzerland and Norway are doing the right thing by staying out of the EU.

Answer 4

by far not all politicians want to join, especially not the ones from the right wing.

would we benefit from being a member of the EU?

there are some pros but even more cons.

pros: lower prices for many goods and some political influence in Bruxelles.

cons: we would lose our democratic system, the influence from Bruxelles to our political system would be huge.

our value added taxes from 7.6% (for food-stuffs and some other goods it's less) have to be increased to at least 15% (for example Germany has 19% or the like).

we would have to pay a lot more money to the EU as we do now.

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@bustedsanta

yep, that it costs a lot is for sure a reason not to join. we pay already a reasonable amount of money to the EU despite we're not a member.

the labor market isn't the problem, it's already open for EU members. (Germans are already flooding the swiss labor market :( )

Answer 5

No.  The bottom line is they would have to disclose their banking secrets and they won't do it.  That is the truth.  They will never join the EU for that reason alone.  Neither will Lichtenstein.

Answer 6

I'm swiss. Switzerland is a rich country and that's one of the reasons they don't want to join. htey should've joined in the very beginning when the EU just got started.

Answer 7

NO. The EU is proving to be a disaster. Switzerland should keep well away.