The defense minister of Switzerland's has said that he does not believe that the European Union will break off its mutual agreements with the country after its vote to limit immigration.
As per the reports of ATS, a news agency of Switzerland, Ueli Maurer, member of Federal Council, in an interview on Sunday told the newspaper, Schweiz am Sonntag, that he is confident that threats that about Switzerland’s 120 mutual agreements with the European Union could be jeopardized will ever become true.
He said that it is unbelievable that the bilateral pacts could be ended. Terminating the bilateral pacts could neither benefit the European Union nor Switzerland.
Brussels had stated that the voters of Switzerland have violated the fundamental principle of free movement of people. This being the reason, it is endangering the bilateral pacts with the European Union including those governing its vital access to the economy of Europe.
The election poll results had let the government of
Switzerland to stop planning for an agreement on free movement of people with Croatia, the newest member of the European Union.
As a response, the European Union had decided on 17th February to suspend talks on education programs and the European Union-funded research with Switzerland.
Maurer had expressed the view that there would be a split within the EU itself regarding any retaliatory action on Switzerland and this is more likely, and especially so, with the upcoming elections of Europe.
According to his view not much will happen until May, when the European elections will be held, but later on he is hopeful that more constructive talks could be held.
He added that though Brussels is not ready to negotiate on agreement of free movement of people, Switzerland must be confident in defending its position.
