Switzerland Rejects Post Brexit Alliance With U.K. Against EU

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Switzerland expressed their stance on rejecting an alliance with U.K. against the European Union. Although the country is outside EU, Swiss foreign minister Didier Burkhalter said that they want an even closer ties with Britain but it will not go beyond the point of forming an anti-EU alliance, the Independent reports.


This was made following Theresa May's Brexit speech wherein the U.K. prime minister wanted a clean break from EU indicating her disapproval over a single market membership. Most of the businesses hoped that both, Switzerland and U.K., could work together to negotiate with EU over the terms of access to the single market while being able to restrict freedom of movement.

During his interviews with Swiss newspapers, Burkhalter said that the government already had a plan last June to adjust bilateral relations with U.K. He said that the Brexit decision opened up options and Switzerland will discuss ways of launching negotiation mandates with Britain. Furthermore, he told reporters that the goal is to have legal security as soon as possible.

Several Swiss business leaders aired out their concern over the negative impact of Brexit especially on leaving the European single market. Economics Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann said that stable relations with U.K. were crucial for Switzerland's banking sector and pharmaceutical industry. Back in July, the Swiss Banker Association (SBA) proposed to work with U.K., Hong Kong and Singapore to form a so-called F4 alliance to better coordinate in areas such as regulation and market access.

Brexit supporters often cite Switzerland as a nation that flourished without being a member of the EU. Relations between the two are framed by a series of bilateral treaties that provide access to parts of the single market but does not include financial services. However, a 2014 referendum was made with majority of the Swiss voting to restrict immigration. Currently, negotiations were ceased as EU threatened that it will not be able to access the single market without allowing freedom of movement. The Swiss are anxious to strike a deal as it depends heavily on the EU for purposes of trade.

Tags
Switzerland, European Union, single market, Britain, UK, Brexit, government, Politics, economy
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