Switzerland and the European Union: A Close, Contradictory and Misunderstood Relationship(Europe and the Nation State)

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.

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

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.