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Switzerland to renew EU immigration quotas Switzerland to limit immigration from all EU states
(35 minutes later)
Switzerland is to renew restrictions on immigration from eight central and eastern European Union countries. The Swiss government is to limit immigration from all EU states from May for a period of one year, in a move criticised by Brussels.
Immigration caps on eight central and eastern states will be extended to 17 other EU states. Bulgarian and Romanian migration is curbed separately.
Though not an EU member itself, Switzerland signed up to the bloc's Schengen rules on freedom of movement.
Brussels criticised the decision to impose the new new quotas.
There is concern in Switzerland about a growing influx of workers from poorer EU members.There is concern in Switzerland about a growing influx of workers from poorer EU members.
Restrictions on the number of work permits will be extended for 12 months from May. When it signed up to the freedom of movement rules in 1999, the country claimed the right enact a "safeguard clause" if the annual influx of workers from countries exceeded a certain number.
Though not an EU member, Switzerland signed up to the bloc's rules on freedom of movement and now faces criticism from Brussels. From mid-2014 the clause becomes invalid, so the quotas can in theory only last for 12 months but Switzerland is due to hold two referendums aimed at limiting immigration.
The Swiss government says the quotas could be extended to 17 more EU countries - in western and southern Europe - from June. Portuguese 'hardest hit'
When it signed up to the freedom of movement rules in 1999, Switzerland claimed the right enact a "safeguard clause" if the annual influx of workers from countries including Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, exceeds a certain number. The limits on the eight newer EU member states were first introduced last year.
The government said it "came to the conclusion that the safeguard clause is one of several measures which can help to make immigration more acceptable to society and compatible with its needs." From 1 May, the number of long-term residence permits granted to immigrants from those countries will be capped at at total of 2,180 for 12 months. The states concerned are Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic.
'Violation' From the same date, long-term residence permits for the 17 older EU states will be capped at 53,700 for 12 months.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton criticised the move. Immigration to Switzerland from Bulgaria and Romania - the two newest EU states - is severely restricted, and may remain so for years to come.
"These measures disregard the great benefits that the free movement of persons brings to the citizens of both Switzerland and the EU," said a statement from her office. In a statement from her office, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the new quotas disregarded "the great benefits that the free movement of persons brings to the citizens of both Switzerland and the EU".
It said the measures were in violation of the free movement agreement. The vast majority of immigrants to Switzerland come from traditional EU members like Germany, Spain, Portugal and Italy, the BBC's Imogen Foulkes reports from Berne.
EU officials have always told Switzerland it cannot cherry pick only those parts of European policy it likes best. It is thought that Portuguese seeking work will be hardest hit, she adds.
The BBC's Imogen Foulkes reports from Berne that the Swiss government has come under pressure from both the right-wing People's Party, and the Green Liberal Party, which say immigration has reached unsustainable levels. The Swiss government has come under pressure from both the right-wing People's Party, and the Green Liberal Party, which say immigration has reached unsustainable levels, our correspondent says.
Switzerland has low unemployment, high salaries, and a safe currency. Switzerland has low unemployment, high salaries, and a safe currency. A government statement said the number of people arriving in Switzerland had exceeded the number leaving by up to 80,000 in recent years.
Even before the start of the eurozone crisis, large numbers of highly skilled workers from Germany and France were seeking jobs in Switzerland, our correspondent says, and in the last two years many more have arrived from Spain, Portugal and Italy. Limiting work permits "can help to make immigration more acceptable to society", the statement added.
A government statement said the number of people arriving in Switzerland had exceeded the number leaving by up to 80,000 in recent years.
Limiting work permits "can help to make immigration more acceptable to society", the statement said.