On Swiss government’s decision to ratify Protocol III for Croatia

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs welcomes the Swiss government’s decision to ratify Protocol III, expanding the Agreement on the Free Movement of People to include Croatia

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs welcomes the Swiss government’s decision to ratify Protocol III, expanding the Agreement on the Free Movement of People to include Croatia.

Said agreement, in force since 1 June 2002, was signed by Switzerland and EU-15 and is being amended by protocols following each enlargement. After Croatia joined the EU 1 July 2013, the Swiss government did not begin the ratification procedure, citing results of the February 2014 referendum.

However, after the ministry’s persistent efforts and backed by the EU institutions, Protocol III was initialled 3 March 2016 and the ratification process completed 16 December 2016.

The deposit of ratification instruments is expected immediately or no later than 22 December 2016 i.e. the session of the EU-Switzerland Joint Committee on Free Movement of Persons. Protocol III is to come into force 1 January 2017, whereby Croatian nationals would no longer have the third-country status on Swiss territory. 

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