This move not only jeopardises the entire EU-Swiss bilateral agreement, the result of 20 years of negotiations, but also the economic and social prosperity of the country as a whole. Soon Swiss citizens will discover that they have been misled by the false promises of a xenophobic and isolationist policy. Today, by disregarding the fundamental values of humanism, freedom and solidarity, Switzerland has stepped into an era of regression.

“The European Union’s fundamental freedoms of free movement of persons and free movement of goods belong together – you can not have one without the other” stated Jo Leinen MEP, President of the European Movement International. ”Switzerland cannot expect that its goods continue to flow freely to the huge European market, while it closes its borders to EU citizens. The restriction of immigration from the EU could put other bilateral agreements between the EU and Switzerland into question.”