Where Next On Brexit? Lessons From the Swiss Model

What can the UK learn, if anything, from the Swiss relationship with the EU? Policy Exchange Head of Demography, Immigration and Integration David Goodhart chaired an event at which this was discussed by Sir Ivan Rogers, Former Permanent Representative of the UK to the EU; Professor Michael Ambuhl, Former Swiss State Secretary and lead negotiator for Switzerland’s agreement with the EU; and Allie Renison, Head of Europe and Trade Policy, Institute of Directors.

The speakers discussed what a potential deal between the UK and EU might look like – with Professor Ambuhl recalling that during the Swiss negotiations, both sought to ‘cherry-pick’ certain policies and an agreement was reached ‘to the benefit of both parties’. Sir Ivan was cautioned that regulatory divergence by the UK wold make it harder to achieve a free trade deal and Allie Renison said more work was needed before a technical solution to the Irish border was possible. The event was covered by the Daily Mail.

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