Swiss referendum paves way for EU deal and R&D collaboration

Vote upholding freedom of movement removes threat to Swiss participation in EU R&D programmes

Swiss voters have rejected an initiative to end the free movement of EU citizens in the country, which threatened to undermine Swiss participation in EU R&D programmes.

On 27 September, 61.7 per cent of voters rejected the ‘moderate immigration’ initiative, started by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party, the largest party in the Swiss parliament. If accepted, it would have required the government to negotiate an end to freedom of movement within a year.