While I realize not a lot of people follow Swiss politics closely, I’m gonna keep y’all informed, as I learn about my new country.
So…two days after a 54% yes vote (kinda close) on joining the Schengen agreements, today: (from Swissinfo.com)
“Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the Austrian-born EU foreign-affairs commissioner, warned on Monday of the consequences if the Swiss refuse to extend an existing treaty on the free movement of people to include the ten new European Union member states.”
A Swiss nationwide vote on the issue is due to be held on September 25.
Ferrero-Waldner said a “no” in September could spell the end of Switzerland’s bid to join the EU’s passport-free Schengen area and potentially scupper an existing set of bilateral treaties.
While it appears Ferrero-Waldner’s statement has caught at least two of the seven Swiss “Presidents” off guard, there appears to be a big potential difficulty looming: (again from Swissinfo)
“Swissinfo: Can we expect Brussels to wade into the campaign in the run-up to September?”
Karin Gilland Lutz, a Bern Polical Scientist: “It’s difficult to know, but I don’t think it would be a very clever move. The Swiss don’t like it when they feel there is outside interference. This has sometimes been a feature of other referendums, for example in Ireland. Whenever an EU commissioner tried to stick his or her nose into European debates there, it never went down well.”
swissinfo: Finally, if you had to place a bet on the outcome of the September vote, where would you be putting your money?
K.G.L.: Definitely on the “no” side. It will be incredibly difficult for supporters of the treaty on the free movement of people (from the 10 new EU contries into Switzerland) to win this one, because the People’s Party is good at playing on people’s fears – and with this vote they have the perfect opportunity to play with fears about unemployment, and this is something many people are worried about right now.
Those in favour of extending the accord on the free movement of people are really going to have to work much harder than they did in the run-up to Schengen if they are to stand any chance of winning in September.”
Long story short, Switzerland could end up completely outside of the EU, as far as security accords, if they vote “no” in September. Also know this: the Swiss have been reaching out to the Americans, and talking about this in the press. Developing story…
