Switzerland
is a
prosperous
and
stable
modern
market
economy,
with
a
per
capita
GDP
that
is
higher
than
those
of
the
big
western
European
economies.
For
much
of
the
20th
century,
Switzerland
was
the
wealthiest
country
in
Europe
by a
considerable
margin.
However,
since
the
early
1990s
it
has
suffered
from
slow
growth
and,
as of
2005,
fell
to
fourth
among
European
states
with
populations
above
one
million
in
terms
of
Gross
Domestic
Product
per
capita
at
purchasing
power
parity,
behind
Ireland,
Denmark
and
Norway.
Switzerland
is a
member
of
the
European
Free
Trade
Association.
In
recent
years,
the
Swiss
have
brought
their
economic
practices
largely
into
conformity
with
those
of
the
European
Union,
in an
effort
to
enhance
their
international
competitiveness,
but
this
has
not
produced
strong
growth.
Full
EU
membership
is a
long-term
objective
of
the
Swiss
government,
but
there
is
considerable
popular
sentiment
against
this.
To
this
end,
it
has
established
an
Integration
Office
under
the
Department
of
Foreign
and
Economic
Affairs.
To
minimise
the
negative
consequences
of
Switzerland's
isolation
from
the
rest
of
Europe,
Bern
and
Brussels
signed
seven
agreements,
called
bilateral
agreements,
to
further
liberalise
trade
ties.
These
agreements
were
signed
in
1999
and
took
effect
in
2001.
This
first
series
of
bilateral
agreements
included
the
free
movement
of
persons.
A
second
series
covering
nine
areas
was
signed
in
2004
and
awaits
ratification.
The
second
series
includes
the
Schengen
treaty
and
the
Dublin
Convention.
They
continue
to
discuss
further
areas
for
cooperation.
Preparatory
discussions
are
being
opened
on
four
new
areas:
opening
up
the
electricity
market,
participation
in
the
European
GPS
system
Galileo,
cooperating
with
the
European
centre
for
disease
prevention
and
recognising
certificates
of
origin
for
food
products.
Switzerland
voted
against
membership
in
the
European
Economic
Area
in
December
1992
and
has
since
maintained
and
developed
its
relationships
with
the
European
Union
and
European
countries
through
bilateral
agreements.
A
full
report
on
the
potential
advantages
and
inconveniences
of
full
EU
membership
is
expected
to be
published
in
June
2006
by
the
Department
of
Foreign
affairs.
EU
membership
supporters
hope
this
report
could
help
reopen
the
internal
debate,
which
has
been
dormant
since
March
2001,
when
the
Swiss
people
refused
in a
popular
vote
to
start
accession
negotiations
with
the
EU.
/From
Wikipedia/ |