“Almost all of the companies surveyed believe that Switzerland cannot do without a privileged relationship with the EU”, the employers’ center wrote on Friday in a press release. They always consider access to the European market as “very important” for the Swiss economy.
According to the survey, Vaudois companies remain “deeply attached” to the bilateral route. More than three quarters of them (77%) are favorable to stabilization and the development of bilateral relations with the EU. On the other hand, they reject the idea of membership in the EU in their overwhelming majority (90%).
Bilaterals III relate to the modification of existing bilateral agreements I, the conclusion of new agreements as well as modifications of federal laws and the adoption of new laws aimed at implementing agreements or introducing support measures. The consultation procedure runs until the end of October.
Resumption of law and free movement
The survey was interested in the feeling of different “hot points” in the file, including the question of the free movement of people. It turns out that 56% of respondents trust the new version of the backup clause, with a unilateral brake, to better control an excessive immigration. On the other hand, 57% of respondents fear that the partial resumption of the European directive on the rights of citizens does not include risks of “social tourism”.
Institutional elements also arouse distrust. This is the case of the system of dynamic resumption of development of European law, which convinces only 47% of respondents. The mechanism of the joint arbitral tribunal for the settlement of disputes manages to tear the membership of respondents with 51% of favorable opinions.
Electricity market
Finally, among the new planned agreements, that relating to the opening of the Swiss electricity market collects 60% of favorable opinions.
A total of 551 companies of all sizes, all sectors combined, and professional associations responded to the survey. Note that it was carried out before the last announcements of the United States in terms of customs duties.
