The new agreements reached between Bern and Brussels in December 2024 will grant EU nationals in Switzerland even more sweeping rights than they currently enjoy.
As The Local already reported, under the new package of bilateral treaties, more than half a million citizens of the European Union states could obtain a Swiss ‘C’ permit after just five years – with no conditions attached.
That’s because the Swiss government would have to adopt EU’s Citizens’ Rights Directive, which allows EU and EFTA nationals (Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein) to move freely within all contracting states (of which Switzerland is one) and grants them permanent residency rights after five years of living in the country.
Having a job – or, for that matter, being financially self-sufficient, which is a condition for obtaining a permit – would no longer be a requirement.
Currently, Switzerland is not bound by the Directive but rather by the agreement on the Free Movement of Persons, so that would be a huge change.
READ ALSO: Why 570,000 foreigners in Switzerland could suddenly get permanent residence
But the new system would ring in other changes as well
Since EU/EFTA nationals would not be subjected to rules which don’t also apply to Swiss citizens, another obligation would be imposed on Switzerland as well.
Specifically, Switzerland will have to be more accommodating towards EU migrants needing social assistance.
This means that if EU/EFTA citizens coming to live in Switzerland cannot support themselves, they would be entitled to receive public assistance – without ever having contributed to the country’s social security scheme.
If the agreements come into force, the government expects 3,000 to 4,000 new cases of social assistance among immigrants per year.
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How would this situation differ from what’s in effect now?
Data from the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) shows that foreign residents — predominantly those from third countries — benefit the most from social aid.
Of the 669,100 people from third countries living in Switzerland in 2022 (last available figures), 6.7 percent received social assistance.
This percentage is almost three times higher than that for people from the EU and EFTA – 2.3 percent – and for the Swiss (1.9 percent).
(The actual number for the Swiss population is highest of all, but that’s because there are significantly more Swiss citizens than foreigners living in Switzerland — therefore, expressing the number in percentages gives a better overview of the situation.)
READ ALSO: Who benefits most from social assistance in Switzerland?
This means that if the new treaties come into force, the number of welfare recipients from EU/EFTA states may equal – or even exceed – that of welfare recipients from third countries.
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Is this ‘a done-deal’?
Not yet.
The consultation process on the new Swiss-EU package, in which political parties and associations could submit their views, wrapped up at the end of October.
The Federal Council is now working on the final draft, which is expected to go to the Parliament in the spring.
Ultimately, Swiss voters will likely have the final say on the new agreements – but not before 2027.
