Switzerland is a Schengen country, so a ban of Schengen tourist visas for Russians would mean they also can’t apply for swiss tourist visas, as swiss visas are Schengen visas, i.e. the same rules apply. So unless switzerland exits Schengen, which would require a popular vote, it shouldn’t matter.
Heck, you are right about Schengen, but I am not sure about the requirement of a popular vote in this case. In article 17 about the agreement between the EU and Switzerland it is written that Switzerland can terminate the agreement. There is nothing mentioned about the referendum. Digging deeper in Swiss laws, the Federal Office clearly states an “optional” referendum, NOT a mandatory one.
Though I have no doubt an optional referendum would happen (it just needs 50k signatures). Plus the SVP, while the biggest party, is only like 30% of government, so it’s doubtful they could push this through by themselves.
Resigning from schengen contract would also mean that swiss people couldn’t travel freely across the Europe. That would be way bigger problem than the potential handful of Russian tourists around there as it’s not that uncommon to go across country borders on your grocery shopping. I very much doubt that Swizerland would shoot itself on both feet, no matter how strong ties someone around there might have to Russia.
Not only that but I feel like if they stopped following EU rules on this, those “uncontrolled” border crossings would become a whole lot more controlled.
Switzerland is a Schengen country, so a ban of Schengen tourist visas for Russians would mean they also can’t apply for swiss tourist visas, as swiss visas are Schengen visas, i.e. the same rules apply. So unless switzerland exits Schengen, which would require a popular vote, it shouldn’t matter.
Heck, you are right about Schengen, but I am not sure about the requirement of a popular vote in this case. In article 17 about the agreement between the EU and Switzerland it is written that Switzerland can terminate the agreement. There is nothing mentioned about the referendum. Digging deeper in Swiss laws, the Federal Office clearly states an “optional” referendum, NOT a mandatory one.
Oh I did not know that.
Though I have no doubt an optional referendum would happen (it just needs 50k signatures). Plus the SVP, while the biggest party, is only like 30% of government, so it’s doubtful they could push this through by themselves.
Resigning from schengen contract would also mean that swiss people couldn’t travel freely across the Europe. That would be way bigger problem than the potential handful of Russian tourists around there as it’s not that uncommon to go across country borders on your grocery shopping. I very much doubt that Swizerland would shoot itself on both feet, no matter how strong ties someone around there might have to Russia.
Not only that but I feel like if they stopped following EU rules on this, those “uncontrolled” border crossings would become a whole lot more controlled.