On Monday 19 September, the president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, is due to meet the president of the Swiss Confederation, Johann Schneider-Ammann, in Zurich although the two sides are still divided over how to respond to the Swiss referendum of 9 February 2014, which called on the government to introduce quotas for foreign workers in Switzerland.
The EU and Bern have been trying to find a solution not to violate freedom of movement as laid down in the free movement of European workers in Switzerland agreement of 2002.
In early September, a chamber of the Swiss parliament submitted a draft law to implement the referendum results. Under this draft law, the Swiss Federal Council would be allowed to issue measures to ensure local labour supply is exhausted before using foreigners. It would set thresholds above which the duty to communicate vacant posts would apply, and if these measures did not prevent immigration from the EU reaching a certain level at regional or national level, then the government would be allowed to take coercive measures in the event of serious economic problems. The measures would have to be limited to the strict minimum and cause as little disruption as possible to the functioning of the agreement on the free movement of individuals.
According to Swiss media, the European Commission’s initial response to the draft law last week was cold, but member states’ ambassadors are reported to view the proposals more favourably. Former president of the Swiss Confederation (currently Swiss foreign minister) Didier Burkhalter said the law could suit the EU, saying in an interview with Schweiz am Sonntag on 18 September that "we could move forwards". Burkhalter said he was looking forward to Juncker’s visit for getting the ball rolling. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)