On February 13, Deputy State Secretary Gergely Prőhle received Swiss Ambassador Jean-François Paroz, who briefed him about the referendum held in Switzerland on restricting the employment of foreigners.

Ambassador Jean-François Paroz informed his Hungarian partner that the Swiss government would initiate talks with Brussels and with the members states on the issue. 

Mr Prőhle declared that Hungary respected the decision made by the citizens of Switzerland at the referendum; however, imposing restrictions on the employment of EU citizens would be contrary to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of labor force. The Hungarian  position is that the free movement of labor had brought economic benefits to Switzerland as well as to the EU member states. The Hungarian Deputy State Secretary expressed his hope that a solution would be found to the problems of the Swiss labor market through joint deliberation on the implementation of the free movement of labor.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)