Switzerland and the European Union - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

From the perspective of the EU, the treaties largely contain the same content as the EEA treaties, making Switzerland a virtual member of the EEA or even the EU. Most EU law applies universally throughout the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, providing most benefits of the free movement of people, goods, services and capital that full member states enjoy. Switzerland pays into the EU budget and extended the bilateral treaties to the new EU member states, just like full members did.

It is usually the community that handles the process of integrating them. They organize and pay for language courses, they pay at the beginning for the living expenses, they help with finding work and if they do not earn enough money they are supported from that community.

I have two friends who were asylum seekers, it was frustrating for them - because it takes approx. 4-5 years to get a B-permission, which allows them to move freely all over Switzerland. However, one of them has now his own company and the other a good job. They are well integrated, speak German and understand Swiss German and they always had the financial support. No Asylum seeker ends up on the street with no roof over the head or no food, like we read the other day about the UK.

It seems to be a very burocratic system, and probably more could be done to make it more human, but some of the problems might stem from the cantons and communities being responsible for the integration process and not the federal state.

I think if you would move to Geneva for a company the will apply for you for a B-permission, so that should be no problem.

Geneva is a nice city, not as lively as London or Paris, but with a big international community mainly made of people working in the many international institutions and organisations which have their siege there.

Annecy is a wonderful place to go to, but the housing prices are sky high.

The country around Geneva is beautiful, and if you like skiing, it's the right place. Lyon is only 1h30 to 2h away by car or train and it takes between 4h and 5h to go to the south of France and the Mediterranean.

"Dieu se rit des hommes qui se plaignent des conséquences alors qu'ils en chérissent les causes" Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet

In june 2009, there will be a referendum on these bilateral treaties. With the recent gains of SVP /UDC (nationalist right party) in Switzerland, I fear what the issue could be.