Federal Council retains safeguard clause for Croatia also in 2024
Published: Wednesday, Nov 22nd 2023, 16:50
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A safeguard clause will continue to apply to the immigration of workers from Croatia in Switzerland in 2024. The number of residence permits for Croatians is to remain at the same level as in the current year. This was decided by the Federal Council on Wednesday.
The full free movement of persons with Croatia was introduced on a trial basis in 2022, according to the Federal Council's statement. Following a sharp increase in the number of Croatian workers in Switzerland, the Federal Council unilaterally activated the safeguard clause provided for in the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons.
The quota of 1204 B permits for 2023 - which are valid for five years - had been used up by the end of October. Of the 1053 short-term permits (L permits), 76% were used up. As the quotas have been heavily used, the Federal Council wants to retain the safeguard clause for next year.
The Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (AFMP) with the EU provides for a gradual opening of access to the Swiss labor market for Croatian nationals. The decision to continue the safeguard clause builds on the protective measures that Switzerland has adopted in recent years - with an additional protocol to the agreement - with regard to the new EU member states. The AFMP came into force in 2002 and Croatia joined the EU in 2013.
According to the AFMP, the safeguard clause can only be invoked for two consecutive years. The Federal Council also announced that the full free movement of persons for Croatian nationals will therefore apply again on a trial basis in 2025. The transitional arrangement for Croatia, which will last a total of ten years, will apply until the end of 2026.
©Keystone/SDA
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