Schulz on decision of Swiss government decision to reintroduce restriction on 8 EU Member States

The President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz made the following statement on the decision of the Swiss government to re-establish quantitative limitations for certain categories of residence permits as regards EU citizens who are nationals of eight of the EU Member States: (Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Czech Republic)

"I regret the decision of Switzerland to discriminate against eight EU Member States. This goes against the spirit and letter of what Switzerland has already signed up to. EU nationals in Switzerland benefit the Swiss economy.

In good economic times or difficult ones, legal obligations, be it for EU Member States or third countries, must be respected. We need to work more closely with our closest neighbours, now is not the time to weaken free movement, but rather strengthen it.

Switzerland is the EU's third largest trading partner and there are no clear legal or economic justifications for such a decision against eight EU Member States."