Why this EU commissioner is fighting for open immigration
European commissioner Laszlo Andor has come out fighting against the Swiss referendum decision to restrict the free movement of European citizens.
On 9 February, the Swiss backed strict quotas for EU immigration by a wafer thin majority of 50.34 per cent on a healthy turnout.
The commissioner's speech comes only a few weeks after fresh evidence emerged showing that open immigration has been economically beneficial for EU cities.
However, these benefits are dwarfed by those that could be enjoyed if the world's immigration restrictions were abolished. Michael Clemens's study, "Trillion dollar bills on the sidewalk," estimates gains to global GDP of between 67 per cent and 147 per cent if all barriers to migration were removed.
Laszlo pointed out the high degree to which Switzerland is interconnected with its neighbours, with 450,000 Swiss citizens living and working throughout the EU and 1.2m EU citizens living in Switzerland.
While emphasising the Commission's readiness to listen to the Swiss proposals, Laszlo mounted a strong defence of the principle of free movement:
This core principle of the free movement of persons is a cornerstone of our relationship. It is a fundamental right. It is not simply "negotiable", as some tend to believe.
Swiss authorities have told the Commission that they will need time to consider how the decision will be implemented. The Swiss Federal Council has a window of three years to decide how to implement the vote.
Laszlo observed that attempting to separate the freedom of movement from other freedoms Switzerland enjoys in its relationship with the EU would prove extremely difficult. "A package is a package! One can't have the cake and eat it," he said.
Complications are already arising over the Swiss decision, with regard to agreements it has already negotiated with the EU and was due to sign. The Swiss Federal Council is still evaluating whether it can agree to the protocol extending free movement to Croatia.
Commissioner Laszlo commented:
The Commission has been crystal-clear that we expect this extension as planned, and that we cannot accept different treatments between our Member States in this crucial field.
However, Laszlo emphasised that no one was advocating the so-called "guillotine clause," which says that any unilateral change to the Swiss-EU bilateral agreements would invalidate a whole host of other treaties.
As Switzerland plans to tighten its borders to EU migrants, an array of economic evidence has been released over the last year showing how Britain has benefited from open immigration.
Christian Dustmann and Tommaso Frattini, of the Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration, found that European immigrants paid a staggering £2,610 more in taxes than they received in benefits each year between 2007 and 2011.