Tánaiste ‘disturbed’ by Swiss cap on immigrants

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has described the decision by Swiss voters to reintroduce caps on EU migrants, as "disturbing" and "worrying."

Speaking at a meeting of foreign affairs ministers in Brussels this morning, the Tánaiste said that he expects the vote to have " serious consequences" on the free movement of people and the variety of agreements that govern relations between the EU and Switzerland.

Yesterday, Switzerland voted by a narrow majority to reintroduce restrictions on immigration that it signed up to 15 years ago.

By a narrow majority, the country of eight million people, voted to re-introduce caps on EU migrants, putting its much- valued trade relationship with the EU into jeopardy.

Nestled in the midst of EU states, but proudly independent, Switzerland has a long history of immigration.

An estimated one in five workers is foreign, many working in the highly-skilled and highly-paid banking, pharmaceutical and food industries.

But anti-immigration has been on the rise, fuelled by concerns over housing and employment shortages.

The referendum passed by a tiny majority, with approximately 50.4 per cent voting in favour of the move to restrict immigration.

The introduction of quotas on EU immigrants violates existing treaties between Switzerland and the EU, which also give Switzerland access to the EU’s single market.

Focus will now turn to what changes the EU will demand in a renegotiated treaty, with many believing that the EU will not tolerate challenges to its free movement laws.

Like other non-EU countries such as Norway and Lichtenstein, Switzerland has remained outside the EUwhile maintaining close ties with the bloc.

Although not part of the European Economic Area, Switzerland has a number of bilateral arrangements with the EU, including a 1999 agreement, which sets out Switzerland’s adherence to free movement rules in exchange for access to the single market.

Switzerland’s Federal Government now has three years from today to renegotiate its treaty terms with Brussels.

In a blunt response to the referendum outcome, the European Commission pledged to examine its implications for EU-Swiss relations as a whole, warning that the vote "goes against the principle of free movement of persons between the EU and Switzerland."

The outcome of the Swiss referendum is also likely to serve as an uncomfortable reminder to the EU of the depth of anti-migration feeling within its own borders.

Immigration is widely expected to be one of the main issues in May's European elections, with anti-immigration parties expected to make strong gains in many countries including France, Britain, the Netherlands and Greece.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore noted today what he described as the worrying growth in an "extreme-right, xenophobic" agenda across Europe.

He added that May’s European elections were very important for the future direction of Europe.