Switzerland and the European Union: A Close, Contradictory and Misunderstood Relationship

by Clive H. Church (Editor)

Overview

Despite its geographical centrality and its considerable economic involvement in Europe, Switzerland remains unusual in that it is neither a member of the European Union or the European Economic Area. At a time when the Union is both expanding and seeking to develop its integration, the country constitutes a real anomaly amongst west European states.

This book demonstrates the range, depth and complexity of Switzerland’s developing relations with Europe and provides detailed and up-to-date information on Switzerland itself. Considering a variety of dimensions of the country and its ambiguous relations with the EU, the contributors, all of whom are leading specialists on Swiss-EU relations, explore:

• the classical political obstacles to entry: federalism, direct democracy, neutrality and the growing strength of anti-European populism
• policy barriers to integration: in trade and economics generally, in financial matters, and in social provisions relating to the movement of people
• the negotiation of the two sets of bilateral accords which presently structure Swiss relations with the Union
• the EU response and the prospects for future Swiss-EU relations.

Switzerland and the European Union will appeal to specialists on Switzerland, academics and students in politics and international relations, and practitioners in European integration and Swiss politics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415371995
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	11/06/2006
Series:	Europe and the Nation State , #11
Pages:	284
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Clive H. Church is Emeritus Jean Monnet Professor of European Studies of the University of Kent, UK and a member of the University’s Centre for Swiss Politics.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction Part A: Political Problems 2. Federalism: Institutional Adaptation and Symbolic Constraints 3. Direct Democracy and European Integration: A Limited Obstacle? 4. Swiss Neutrality – An Obstacle on the Path towards the EU? 5. Populism in Switzerland and the EU: From Vox Populi to Vox Mediae Part B: Economic and Social Difficulties 6. Swiss International Economic Relations: Assessing a Small and Open Economy 7. Sectors, Structures and Suspicions: Financial and other Aspects of Swiss Economic Relations with the EU 8. The (Contentious) Human Face of Europeanization: Free Movement and Immigration Part C: The EU and International Contexts 9. The Wider Setting of Swiss Foreign Policy 10. Continuities Within Change: The Background of Swiss Relations with Europe 11. Back to the Future: The First Round of Bilateral Negotiations with the EU 12. Bilaterals 2: Reaching the Limits of the Swiss Third Way? 13. Switzerland: Special Case or Scallywag? The View from the EU 14. Prospects