The Movement of Services Between the European Union and Switzerland

Abstract:

The article highlights the barriers in the provision of services between Switzerland and the EU which result from the restrictions introduced by Switzerland as regards free movement of persons and the fact that the FMPA has not been adjusted to the developing acquis of the Union. The obstacles in question are part of a broader context marked by the necessity to modernise the system of EU–Swiss bilateral agreements. The obligation on the Swiss federal government to renegotiate the FMPA which stems from the ‘against mass immigration’ referendum held on 9 February 2014 presents an opportunity to introduce between Switzerland and the Union a model for their relations which would be more coherent, transparent, dynamic and easier to manage and whose basis could be a framework or an association agreement.