ZURICH — The Swiss government on Tuesday urged voters to reject a referendum push by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party to end an accord with the European Union on the free movement of citizens. Should the measure win a binding vote on May 17 in what is being called Switzerland’s “Brexit moment,” the country risks losing its privileged access to the EU single market that is the lifeblood of the export-led Swiss economy. Business leaders say they need skilled foreign workers, and imposing limits on EU citizens would violate the free-movement accord that enhances Swiss access to the single market. Battling the referendum campaign is a priority for the Swiss government, which has struggled to put relations with the surrounding EU on a new footing. Critics say the pact infringes Swiss sovereignty to the extent that it would never get through parliament or pass a referendum.

Source: National Post February 11, 2020 08:15 UTC