This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/11/world/europe/swiss-immigration-vote-raises-alarm-across-europe.html

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Swiss Vote Seen as Sign of Far Right’s Power in Europe Swiss Vote Seen as Challenge to European Integration
(35 minutes later)
LONDON — European officials warned Switzerland on Monday that it would pay a steep price for its vote to limit the flow of workers across its borders, but many also acknowledged that far-right parties were beginning to reshape politics and policy across the Continent.LONDON — European officials warned Switzerland on Monday that it would pay a steep price for its vote to limit the flow of workers across its borders, but many also acknowledged that far-right parties were beginning to reshape politics and policy across the Continent.
The Swiss vote on Sunday posed a direct challenge to the free movement of people, a key pillar to the whole edifice of the European Union. It followed a surprising show of strength at the polls by a wide range of groups, ranging from nationalist politicians in Britain, France and the Netherlands to anti-Semites in Hungary and a neo-fascist movement in Greece, that treat some European ideals as a threat to their freedom and prosperity. The Swiss vote on Sunday posed a direct challenge to the free movement of people, a key pillar to the whole edifice of the European Union. It followed a surprising show of strength at the polls by a wide range of groups — from nationalist politicians in Britain, France and the Netherlands to anti-Semites in Hungary and a neo-fascist movement in Greece — that treat some European ideals as a threat to their freedom and prosperity.
The big test of populist power will be in May, when anti-immigrant and euroskeptic parties are campaigning vigorously to take seats in the European Parliament, seeking to form a block in the legislature that aims to roll back integration and taxation in Europe. The big test of populist power will be in May, when anti-immigrant and euroskeptic parties are campaigning vigorously to take seats in the European Parliament, seeking to form a bloc in the legislature that aims to roll back integration and taxation in Europe.
Daniela Schwarzer, a German expert on the European Union with the German Marshall Fund in Berlin, said that “freedom of movement has become a subject of worry” for Europeans. “The result of the referendum will have a strong impact on the euroskeptic parties,” she said.Daniela Schwarzer, a German expert on the European Union with the German Marshall Fund in Berlin, said that “freedom of movement has become a subject of worry” for Europeans. “The result of the referendum will have a strong impact on the euroskeptic parties,” she said.
Just last month, workers from Romania and Bulgaria became the latest among those living in European Union member states to have the right to migrate and work anywhere inside the bloc, a development that contributed to the backlash against the open-borders rules.Just last month, workers from Romania and Bulgaria became the latest among those living in European Union member states to have the right to migrate and work anywhere inside the bloc, a development that contributed to the backlash against the open-borders rules.
Days before the Swiss vote, Geert Wilders, the anti-Islam Dutch politician, issued a report he commissioned from a London consulting firm trying to show that the Netherlands would be better off leaving the European Union. While there has been criticism of the study, carried out by Capital Economics, Mr. Wilders has turned his party’s emphasis from opposition to Islam to opposition to the European Union, and his Party for Freedom is likely to elect the largest number of European legislators from the Netherlands.Days before the Swiss vote, Geert Wilders, the anti-Islam Dutch politician, issued a report he commissioned from a London consulting firm trying to show that the Netherlands would be better off leaving the European Union. While there has been criticism of the study, carried out by Capital Economics, Mr. Wilders has turned his party’s emphasis from opposition to Islam to opposition to the European Union, and his Party for Freedom is likely to elect the largest number of European legislators from the Netherlands.
A decision by the Netherlands to exit the European Union would mean that “we no longer have to pay billions to Brussels and weak southern European countries, that we can save billions by liberating ourselves from European Union regulations,” Mr. Wilders said in The Hague. “That we can end the mass immigration and stop paying welfare checks to, for instance, the Bulgarians and the Romanians.”A decision by the Netherlands to exit the European Union would mean that “we no longer have to pay billions to Brussels and weak southern European countries, that we can save billions by liberating ourselves from European Union regulations,” Mr. Wilders said in The Hague. “That we can end the mass immigration and stop paying welfare checks to, for instance, the Bulgarians and the Romanians.”
Eamon Gilmore, the Irish foreign minister, said that there was a “growth in the extreme right agenda” across the European Union and that it was “quite xenophobic.” He said the vote would pose “major difficulties” for freedom of movement, which is a “cornerstone of what the E.U. is all about.”Eamon Gilmore, the Irish foreign minister, said that there was a “growth in the extreme right agenda” across the European Union and that it was “quite xenophobic.” He said the vote would pose “major difficulties” for freedom of movement, which is a “cornerstone of what the E.U. is all about.”
The vote in Switzerland, which is not a member of the European Union but has broad agreements with Brussels, was very close, with the measure favored by just 50.3 percent of those who voted in the referendum. It gives the government three years to come up with legislation imposing immigration quotas and to negotiate with Brussels on how to manage that legislation.The vote in Switzerland, which is not a member of the European Union but has broad agreements with Brussels, was very close, with the measure favored by just 50.3 percent of those who voted in the referendum. It gives the government three years to come up with legislation imposing immigration quotas and to negotiate with Brussels on how to manage that legislation.
The vote was pushed by the far-right Swiss People’s Party, which was instrumental in a 2009 vote banning new Swiss mosques from having minarets.The vote was pushed by the far-right Swiss People’s Party, which was instrumental in a 2009 vote banning new Swiss mosques from having minarets.
Switzerland had agreed to its rules on freedom of movement to benefit from effective integration with Europe, including freedom of trade and movement of capital — which are all now in doubt.Switzerland had agreed to its rules on freedom of movement to benefit from effective integration with Europe, including freedom of trade and movement of capital — which are all now in doubt.
Viviane Reding, the justice commissioner of the European Union, said Monday that acceptance of the single market for goods, people and capital was all or nothing. “You cannot have a single market with holes in it,” she said.Viviane Reding, the justice commissioner of the European Union, said Monday that acceptance of the single market for goods, people and capital was all or nothing. “You cannot have a single market with holes in it,” she said.
Laurent Fabius, the French foreign minister, said that the vote was bad news “both for Europe and the Swiss” and that Europe “was going to review its relations” with Switzerland.Laurent Fabius, the French foreign minister, said that the vote was bad news “both for Europe and the Swiss” and that Europe “was going to review its relations” with Switzerland.
But the challenge from Switzerland puts Brussels in a bind. The European Union must defend its founding principles or risk undermining the whole project in a way that even the euro crisis has not. But by ignoring calls to limit immigration in a period of recession, Brussels can look elitist and bureaucratic and simply feed the anti-European Union backlash that connects the various far-right populist parties of Europe. But the challenge from Switzerland puts Brussels in a bind. The European Union must defend its founding principles or risk undermining the whole project in a way that even the euro crisis has not. But by ignoring calls to limit immigration in a period of recession, Brussels can look elitist and bureaucratic and feed the anti-European Union backlash that connects the far-right populist parties of Europe.
The populists, at the moment, appear to be in the driver’s seat.The populists, at the moment, appear to be in the driver’s seat.
Mr. Wilders of the Netherlands has formed an alliance with France’s National Front, whose leader, Marine Le Pen, has similarly switched her party’s emphasis from opposing Islam to opposing immigration and the European Union as an elite foreign power suppressing French values and nationalism.Mr. Wilders of the Netherlands has formed an alliance with France’s National Front, whose leader, Marine Le Pen, has similarly switched her party’s emphasis from opposing Islam to opposing immigration and the European Union as an elite foreign power suppressing French values and nationalism.
The National Front leads French polls for the European elections, which are founded on proportional representation, unlike the French and British domestic elections, which tend to squeeze out smaller parties.The National Front leads French polls for the European elections, which are founded on proportional representation, unlike the French and British domestic elections, which tend to squeeze out smaller parties.
Various national populist parties are trying to form an electoral bloc that will give them more power in the next European Parliament, the only directly elected institution of the European Union. Besides the parties of Mr. Wilders and Ms. Le Pen, the bloc already includes Austria’s Freedom Party, Sweden’s Democrats, Italy’s Northern League and Belgium’s Vlaams Belang, centered in Dutch-speaking Flanders.Various national populist parties are trying to form an electoral bloc that will give them more power in the next European Parliament, the only directly elected institution of the European Union. Besides the parties of Mr. Wilders and Ms. Le Pen, the bloc already includes Austria’s Freedom Party, Sweden’s Democrats, Italy’s Northern League and Belgium’s Vlaams Belang, centered in Dutch-speaking Flanders.
While they are all somewhat different, they are all appealing to nationalism, attracting those upset by immigration, Islam, economic distress and “faceless” bureaucratic dictates from Brussels. The group rejects joining with Hungary’s anti-Semitic Jobbik party or Greece’s semi-fascist Golden Dawn, which have their own anti-Brussels positions. While they are all somewhat different, they are all appealing to nationalism, attracting those upset by immigration, Islam, economic distress and “faceless” bureaucratic dictates from Brussels. The group rejects joining with Hungary’s anti-Semitic party Jobbik or Greece’s semifascist Golden Dawn, which have their own anti-Brussels positions.
But every country of the European Union, except Germany, has a substantial anti-immigrant, anti-European party, all playing on the idea that the European Union has grown too large, too powerful and too distant, and that the openness at the heart of the European experiment has gone too far, diminishing national identities and values and creating economic distress, intra-European competition for jobs and too much pressure on social services from immigrants.But every country of the European Union, except Germany, has a substantial anti-immigrant, anti-European party, all playing on the idea that the European Union has grown too large, too powerful and too distant, and that the openness at the heart of the European experiment has gone too far, diminishing national identities and values and creating economic distress, intra-European competition for jobs and too much pressure on social services from immigrants.
Britain’s United Kingdom Independence Party has made strong efforts to differentiate itself from the far-right alliance, arguing that its opposition to mass immigration is not extremist and that it has one prime issue at heart: British exit from the European Union, a position that has significant support from inside the Conservative Party, too. Britain’s U.K. Independence Party has made strong efforts to differentiate itself from the far-right alliance, arguing that its opposition to mass immigration is not extremist and that it has one prime issue at heart: British exit from the European Union, a position that has significant support from inside the Conservative Party, too.
The Independence Party’s leader, Nigel Farage, said Monday, “This is wonderful news for national sovereignty and freedom lovers throughout Europe.” Striking familiar themes, he said, “A wise and strong Switzerland has stood up to the bullying and threats of the unelected bureaucrats of Brussels.”The Independence Party’s leader, Nigel Farage, said Monday, “This is wonderful news for national sovereignty and freedom lovers throughout Europe.” Striking familiar themes, he said, “A wise and strong Switzerland has stood up to the bullying and threats of the unelected bureaucrats of Brussels.”
A spokesman for Prime Minister David Cameron, a Conservative, hit the same themes, if more carefully. The Swiss vote shows “that there is growing concern around the impact that free movement can have,” said the spokesman, Jean-Christophe Gray, noting that Mr. Cameron had urged his European Union colleagues to look for ways to limit immigration, suggesting yearly quotas. “That is why the prime minister and other ministers have been raising this issue, and will continue to do so, with their counterparts across the E.U.”A spokesman for Prime Minister David Cameron, a Conservative, hit the same themes, if more carefully. The Swiss vote shows “that there is growing concern around the impact that free movement can have,” said the spokesman, Jean-Christophe Gray, noting that Mr. Cameron had urged his European Union colleagues to look for ways to limit immigration, suggesting yearly quotas. “That is why the prime minister and other ministers have been raising this issue, and will continue to do so, with their counterparts across the E.U.”
At the same time, the more that establishment parties try to co-opt anti-European and anti-immigration themes, the more credibility they provide for the parties on their right.At the same time, the more that establishment parties try to co-opt anti-European and anti-immigration themes, the more credibility they provide for the parties on their right.
European officials said Monday that they would not accept the imposition of quotas on European Union citizens and that Switzerland could lose its access to the single European market.European officials said Monday that they would not accept the imposition of quotas on European Union citizens and that Switzerland could lose its access to the single European market.
The Swiss vote is a reminder to the European Union of the danger of referendums on major issues. The French, considered committed pro-Europeans, shot down a European constitutional reform drafted by their former president, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, in 2005, as did the Dutch. The Swiss vote is a reminder to the European Union of the danger of referendums on major issues. The French, considered committed pro-Europeans, rejected a European constitutional overhaul drafted by one of their former presidents, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, in 2005, as did the Dutch.
Daniel Cohn-Bendit, a German-French European legislator, said that if France had voted on the same referendum as the Swiss, “it would have been worse, with 60 percent voting ‘yes.’ ” Daniel Cohn-Bendit, a German-French European legislator, said that if France had voted on the same proposal as the Swiss, “it would have been worse, with 60 percent voting ‘yes.’ ”
The general reluctance to consult democratic voters on important changes to European structures has fed the “democratic deficit” that feeds the euroskeptic parties — and which direct elections to the European Parliament and the greater powers provided to it under the Lisbon Treaty were intended to prevent. The general reluctance to consult democratic voters on important changes to European structures has fed the “democratic deficit” that feeds the euroskeptic parties — and that direct elections to the European Parliament and the greater powers provided to it under the Lisbon Treaty were intended to prevent.