Swiss-EU trade deal collapses ...

EU bullying fails again.

I see that VDL's motley crew are now accusing Switzerland of "cherry picking". I thought we'd already tried to strip the fruit trees of Brussels bare, at least according to that over-bearing Frenchman, no, not Macron but the pompous Barnier. The next EU demand will be to allow their fishing fleets to trawl the Swiss lakes.

I’ve just been reading several articles on this topic as you can tell.
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Thank heavens we are out from under the thumb.

I read this a while ago Urmstongran

The EU are warning Switzerland about their supply of electricity. Threats again.

a while ago. =. a couple of hours ago as I am #lazygran this morning indulging in some self-pampering (suns out so body parts hidden for many many months will be out )

Maybe I lead a sheltered life, but I hadn’t heard this piece of news, so thank you for enlightening me Urmstongran.

There is no bullying - to be a member of the EU, or to have a special reciprocal agreement, you can't cherry pick. Switzerland has had to accept Free Movement to have such special agreement- and now they want to stop this. It has natural consequences and puts the agreement at risk.

Very simple. And very dangerous for a tiny country absolutely surrounded by EU, for imports, exports, and for supply chains and labour. And very stupid posturing and misplaced nationalism. As Raab said, never under-estimate the reality of our geographical position with regard to those you choose to no longer have as partners.

Had Brexit not happened, Switzerland would probably have been able to bend the rules a bit - but Brexit makes that totally impossible as the EU, quite rightly so, says, same rules for everyone. Quite simple, really.

But there never have been the same rules for everyone have there?
Greece should never have been allowed to join, but it suited Germany so hey presto!

maddyone

Maybe I lead a sheltered life, but I hadn’t heard this piece of news, so thank you for enlightening me Urmstongran.

I’m just a news wonk maddyone!

Urmstongran

Namsnanny

But there never have been the same rules for everyone have there?
Greece should never have been allowed to join, but it suited Germany so hey presto!

Which rules are different for Greece? Have they been allowed to not adhere to Free Movement?

Greece didn’t meet the financial requirements to become an EU member, as I remember it, but it was a long time ago so maybe wrong on that.

Good for Switzerland btw ?

Have you ever looked at a map lemongrove. Waving the flag is all very well- reality is another story!

Well Kali I would think I have looked at maps as often as you have yourself ( maybe more) so I do know where Switzerland is situated thanks.Am not actually waving the Swiss flag....are you?
Good for any country that doesn’t just crumble to EU demands though.

Watch this space, next will be a trade deal between Switzerland and the UK. Cuckoo clocks, Toblerone, very good watches and Gruyere cheese will be cheap and plentiful.

Yes thanks urmstongran I hadn’t heard either. I always read your posts because you’re up to date with what’s happening. My ‘go to’ poster. ??

Casdon

Watch this space, next will be a trade deal between Switzerland and the UK. Cuckoo clocks, Toblerone, very good watches and Gruyere cheese will be cheap and plentiful.

I hope so !

The Swiss are not stupid. Well done to them for standing firm.
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Thank you Gwyneth (says she, blushing!).

It is sobering how the mask of benign benevolent meritocracy has immediately slipped the moment the UK left and it became clear our population had seen through it and were not about to be wooed back.

Whatever the EU may have been, or was imagined as being in the past, now it is rapidly going down a dark and dangerous path. 'Democracies' are seen in the same way as China viewed Hong Kong. Something to tolerate as long as it kept the population content with the illusion of controlling their destiny but quickly swept aside if those desires clashed with the unelected rulers plans and views.

It started with the EU, eight years ago, wanting to roll those 120 bilateral trade agreements into one. It was a reasonable ambition you might think - a tidying-up exercise, a rationalisation which would make the rules easier for everyone to understand.

But, needless to say, that wasn’t just what the EU had in mind.

It wanted to seize the opportunity to extend its free movement rules to Switzerland and more effectively to impose its regulations on the country. In future, Switzerland was to be forced into ‘dynamic alignment’ with EU regulations. In other words, the EU would lay down the rules that it expected Switzerland to follow, on environmental law, labour law and everything else.

Moreover, it expected Switzerland to bend to its social security rules, which, so the Swiss feared, would have meant EU citizens being able to settle in Switzerland and gain full access to its welfare system from day one.

Casdon

Watch this space, next will be a trade deal between Switzerland and the UK. Cuckoo clocks, Toblerone, very good watches and Gruyere cheese will be cheap and plentiful.

Toblerone and Gruyere cheese - Yes!!

Urmstongran Thu 27-May-21 19:51:53

Interesting post Urmstongran
Why can trade deals not be just that - trade between countries - without all the other conditions being imposed?

There is no bullying - to be a member of the EU, or to have a special reciprocal agreement, you can't cherry pick. Switzerland has had to accept Free Movement to have such special agreement- and now they want to stop this. It has natural consequences and puts the agreement at risk.

But why? Why?
EU bullying?

This will be interesting to observe.

Urmstongran
Very good post ?
It must be galling for Swiss inhabitants who believe in free movement ?
Still, it will give them something to rant about.