The new package of agreements between Bern and Brussels will “cause crime to explode in Switzerland,” populists say. But is this true?
Though it lost its bid to cap immigration from the European Union in the June 14th referendum, the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) is not giving up its flight to prevent more foreigners from coming into Switzerland.
This time around, its new anti-immigration strategy is focusing on attacking the new batch of Swiss-EU treaties, concluded in December 2024 but not yet ratified.
The referendum to do so will likely be held sometime in 2027.
‘Brussels’ lackey’
The SVP is, however, sounding the alarm about the potentially disastrous consequences for Switzerland if the treaties are ratified.
Their main argument is that if the agreements come into force, Switzerland will lose its sovereignty and will, for all intents and purposes, become Brussels’ lackey.
For this reason, they are calling the package “a treaty of submission,” arguing that Switzerland will lose much and gain nothing (besides problems, in their view) if the pact goes into effect.
READ MORE: Will the new EU treaty really harm Switzerland?
Now it is warning the public about an alleged rise in crime if the treaties are ratified.
What are they saying?
According to SVP deputy Roman Bürgi, the Schengen system – of which Switzerland is a member – is to blame for the spike in crime.
“The perpetrators enter without hindrance, carry out their crimes, and leave the country a few hours later, as systematic border checks are prohibited by order of Brussels,” he argues, citing cases of armed robberies carried out in Switzerland by individuals “escaping in a car with French license plates.”
For Switzerland, ratifying the new package of agreement would therefore mean “even less room for manoeuvre to protect our own borders,” he pointed out.
Switzerland needs the opposite, he argues: “autonomous border controls, the systematic expulsion of foreign criminals, and a clear NO to this institutional subjugation. Security is the primary duty of the state. A country that no longer controls its borders ultimately controls nothing at all.”
Do these claims have any merit?
To the SVP, they clearly do.
But experts don’t share this view.
Francesco Maiani, professor of European Law at the University of Lausanne and expert in EU Migration Law and Policies told The Local in an interview that “from a legal standpoint, this is a vastly exaggerated claim.”
