MICHAEL BUHOLZER / AFP PHOTOPublicity for the referendum: Swiss job market is now restrictedMICHAEL BUHOLZER / AFP PHOTO
Half of the researchers working at Swiss universities and companies are foreign-born. And their lives are about to get more complicated, now that Swiss voters have decided to limit the entry of European Union (EU) citizens into the country’s job market. The referendum, approved by a small majority of votes, was suggested by the rightward-leaning political party Democratic Union of the Center (UDC) and establishes a quota system for foreign entrants. Although it is not an EU member, Switzerland has signed agreements with the group and has become an essential partner in research programs like Horizon 2020, launched in January 2014. The program will assign €80 billion over the next six years to research in fields including biotechnology, healthcare, and transportation. Out of that total, €3.5 billion would be funded by Switzerland, but that partnership may soon be dismantled. The reason is that the referendum’s outcome breaches a bilateral agreement on the free circulation of people, which enables Swiss and EU citizens to work and live in any one of the bloc’s 28 countries and various associated nations. Right after the referendum results came out, EU negotiators canceled a meeting with the Swiss to discuss Horizon 2020. Foreign researchers will still be able to participate in Horizon 2020, but they will no longer be eligible for grants from the European Research Council.
Republish