Zurich train station

Geneva, Switzerland (Le Temps, Fre) – Switzerland’s weekend vote in favour of biometric passports is a positive sign in terms of the country’s closer relationship with the European Union (EU), but there are disquieting signs, too, says Jacques Barrot, EU vice-president. Barrot is interviewed at length in Le Temps about Switzerland the Schengen accord. Two areas for concern are the possibility that Swiss border guards’ patrols of Swiss trains could become routine and that the Swiss Federal Council could decide this week to exercise its option to reduce the number of foreigners allowed to work in the country.

The train patrols are witihin Switzerland’s rights, Barrot notes, but they should not be systematic. The Schengen area agreements allow for internal identity controls for a specific reason, for example linked to a police investigation of drug activities. The accord also gives countries the option to put some controls on the free movement of labour in times of need, he notes, and there is always the danger that in times of economic crisis xenophobia will increase. But it would be unfortunate for Switzerland to show signs of shutting itself off now, he notes, at a time when the country has shown itself to play a greater role in European affairs.

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