Swiss offer EU solution for Britain

Thrugelmir

Is there an alternative model in the air? One without the political baggage. Allowing nation states to remain independent.

The former Swiss president has said the UK should work with her country to find a way to balance freedom of movement with single market access.
Micheline Calmy-Rey said the two countries shared a common purpose out - or planning to be out - of the European Union.
But both still want a good trade relationship with the union.
She also urged the European Union to become more "flexible" on the issue of immigration or risk "exploding".
Its "very rigid" approach to free movement was not the correct response to the new pressures it faced following the UK vote to leave, she said, adding that Switzerland had found it very difficult to negotiate with the EU on the issue.
In 2014, Switzerland voted against free movement in a referendum.
"Switzerland and Britain have in common the same question - that means the question of freedom of movement and [the need] to find a solution in order to respond to our population to limit migration," Ms Calmy-Rey told the BBC.
"The question is what political price Great Britain and Switzerland are willing to pay to limit migration.
"Do they have to pay with access to the big market - totally, partially or not at all?
"And it all depends on the negotiations you will have and we will have with the European Union.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37312807

stator

The Swiss are in the same position but are too small to have any clout. It's quite sensible that we should team up and try to negotiate some kind of single market access with limited free movement of people deal.
Could always try to get Norway involved too.

LHW99

The more the better. I thought we used to belong to something called EFTA (European Free Trade Association) and never quite understood why joining the EEC (as it then was) gave any significant advantage.

Thrugelmir

stator wrote: »

The Swiss are in the same position but are too small to have any clout.

Having allies gives greater bargaining strength. Which is the Swiss view after having got nowhere.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

The EU must and will hold firm.

Free movement of people is as vital for a single market as free movement of goods or capital.

BobQ

stator wrote: »

The Swiss are in the same position but are too small to have any clout. It's quite sensible that we should team up and try to negotiate some kind of single market access with limited free movement of people deal.
Could always try to get Norway involved too.

I agree but I imagine that the EU might see that as the thin end of the wedge with Denmark and Sweden seeing that as a way out of the EU. Cannot see the EU allowing that.

A_Medium_Size_Jock

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

The EU must and will hold firm.

Free movement of people is as vital for a single market as free movement of goods or capital.

Hold firm?
:rotfl:
TTIP & now CETA both on the brink of extinction.
Elections in Germany, Holland & France looking likely to expunge existing regimes next year.
Eastern European discontent of EU hierarchy increasing, together with a refusal to accept migrants.
Hungarian votes re: immigration; Austria suing Hungary; discontent of EU rule-bending re: Portugal & Spain; Italian & German banking crises; the list could go on and on and on.
There may well soon be no EU left TO "hold firm".

A_Medium_Size_Jock

BobQ wrote: »

I agree but I imagine that the EU might see that as the thin end of the wedge with Denmark and Sweden seeing that as a way out of the EU. Cannot see the EU allowing that.

With increasing discontent amongst its members, it may not get the choice.

BobQ

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

The EU must and will hold firm.

Free movement of people is as vital for a single market as free movement of goods or capital.

I agree but I do wonder what room for manoevre there is without losing face.

For example could we have free trade for some goods and services but not all? Could we accept freedom of movement with some restrictions on it such as limiting it to those who are self supporting?

CLAPTON

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

The EU must and will hold firm.

Free movement of people is as vital for a single market as free movement of goods or capital.

yes, I'm sure all the remainers see the population drop in Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece etc as one of the major benefits of the EU.
odd how few times its mentioned as a major benefit to those countries

stator

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

The EU must and will hold firm.

Free movement of people is as vital for a single market as free movement of goods or capital.

Free movement of people on paper but I can see there being some kind of restriction. I can see some kind of cap being allowed, say 1% of population after which people have to go on a waiting list and wait until next year.
Not the kind of thing Merkel would like, but hopefully she will be gone soon anway.
If a few key people in the EU are replaced we could see a completely different negotiating position.