Messages in the Media - University of Toronto

available resources for Swiss nationals and has created
problems particularly with regards to housing. 16
- If the initiative does gain popularity, it could undermine
the treaties signed between the EU and Switzerland
harming Swiss-EU relations. 17
2011 IN REVIEW:
Switzerland and EU relations have traditionally
been complex. While the Swiss people want to maintain
their independent identity, the fact that Switzerland is surrounded
by so many EU member states has meant that the
Swiss government has concluded a series of treaties with
the EU to keep up with the progress achieved by the EU
member states. It is unlikely, however, that Switzerland
will join the EU anytime soon. The year 2011 was marked
by tense relations between the two. Throughout the year,
Switzerland displayed an interest in following EU policy
under its own terms. This was shown when the Swiss government
suggested that it would take its time to decide if it
wanted to adopt sanctions against Iran. Clearly, the Swiss
government was trying to prove its independence over its
foreign policy and that it could act independently in order
to resolve international crisis. This is rooted in the fact that
the Swiss have historically tended to prioritize their national
identity over their European one. This in turn has
created tension between Switzerland and the EU, as Switzerland
only seems willing to follow EU policy when it results
in clear social and economic benefit for its people
(such as the passport free cone or collaborated efforts to
resolve security related issues).
As Switzerland engaged in bilateral relations with
Britain and Germany to prevent tax evasion, the EU felt
that its power to create policies and enforce them upon its
member states was being threatened and its authority being
challenged. As a result, it issued a notification condemning
the bilateral engagements and suggested instead
that the EU take up the responsibility of creating a unified
tax evasion system all across Europe. Like any global institution,
the EU is sensitive to the fact that it only has as
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