【BBC Words in the News】Switzerland limits imm...

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Switzerland limits immigration
瑞士收紧移民政策

                                                                                                                
                           
                                                      
Audio Report: http://club.topsage.com/thread-3253860-1-1.html
Summary
26 April 2013
Switzerland is to restrict immigration from European Union member states. It will introduce new quotas and limit long-term work permits available to EU citizens. Although Switzerland is not a member of the European Union, some EU officials have already criticised the move.
瑞士准备对来自欧盟成员国的移民和劳工进行入境限制。新的规定不仅对移民人数进行定额限制，而且同时会收紧欧盟成员国公民可持的长期工作签证数量。瑞士虽不是欧盟成员国，但此举引来了众多欧盟官员的强烈不满。

Reporter: Imogen Foulkes

Report

Switzerland's high salaries, low unemployment, and stable currency are a magnet to Eurozone countries. Since the Swiss agreed to free movement of people, immigration from EU members has risen sharply, especially from Spain and Portugal, where unemployment is at crisis levels.  

In Switzerland, there is tension. The right wing People's Party claims Swiss jobseekers are losing out; the Green Party says immigration is putting too much pressure on housing and public transport. Now the Swiss government has called a halt: being outside the EU means Switzerland has some flexibility, and from next month permanent work permits for EU citizens will be strictly limited.  

Brussels has reacted angrily: EU officials have always told Switzerland it cannot cherry pick only those parts of European policy it likes best. Now, it's possible other deals the Swiss really need with Europe, on trade perhaps, could be in danger. Meanwhile, sceptical members of the European Union, like Britain, where many would like a less rigid relationship with the EU, will be watching Switzerland's move with interest.

Vocabulary

stable：steady, not likely to change
magnet：great attraction
Eurozone countries：sixteen nations which use the Euro as their currency
immigration：the permanent movement of non-native people into a country
at crisis levels：at a point where big problems could happen
called a halt：put a stop to it
work permits：written certificates allowing someone to work in a country
cherry pick：here: choose only the things that it likes
sceptical (US: skeptical)：lacking trust or confidence in something
rigid：fixed, not flexible

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