Switzerland and the EU are more than just neighbors. We have very close and deep ties, rooted in a long, shared, European history.
Geographical proximity plays a role of course, But, much more importantly, the close bonds between our citizens.
About 1.4 million EU citizens live in Switzerland and 450,000 Swiss live in the EU.
Another 320,000 EU citizens cross the border daily to work in Switzerland.
The citizens of Switzerland have shown today that they value these ties.
Their vote upholds one of the core pillars of our relationship: the mutual freedom to move, to live and to work in Switzerland and the EU.
I welcome this outcome. I see it as a positive signal to continue to consolidate and deepen our relationship.
I will soon speak to Mrs Sommaruga, President of the Swiss Confederation. I will congratulate her on this result.
Of course, I look forward to the Swiss Federal Council now moving swiftly on the signature and ratification of the International Framework Agreement that we negotiated in 2018.
I will reiterate this message I passed last January when we met in Davos.
