https://www.dw.com/en/switzerland-ignores-eu-deadline-for-tr...
This is a much stronger position to be in and the UK is a much larger "adversary" in tough negotiations (and has always been even within the EU).
There’s no reason the UK cannot negotiate their levels of access to the EU market like the Swiss or the Norwegians do, but the EU won’t grant full access without full freedom of movement. In fact, all of this is what’s happening now. How strong the UK negotiation position is can currently be observed.
There's a lot of scaremongering going around. The "no deal" scenario is terrifying for the EU as well, especially if the Britons don't pay the 39b and shut down their market.
Unfortunately, the current EU administration has a track record of self-inflicted wounds (e.g. Russia sanctions), so this is the most likely scenario now.
The Swiss are literally waiting for UK to leave EU, to see what they can demand. And they also want to restrict immigration...
Guess who's going to find it harder to negotiate as a result? UK, for trying to get an ultra special deal...
Let me clarify that. The populace very narrowly said yes to a referendum, which was supposed to restrict immigration[1].
Parliament implented it in a way, which was pretty toothless towards EU citizens who want to move and work to Switzerland, letting the Swiss Popular Party (SVP) going balistic.
Herein lies the rub: The population accepted the bilaterals with ~60% yes (if I recall correctly, I could be slightly off), but the immigration initiative with just slightly > 50%.
The problem is that you can't have it both ways. In essence the country would have to cancel the bilateral contracts in order to restrict immigration to EU citizens.
The current tensions are derived from a couple issues :
The EU wants a frame agreement so that that not every piss squiek new regulation needs to be negotiated, which is understandable
One of the sticky issues, though, is the regulation on EU companies (mostly contractors), which need to pre-announce work done in Switzerland 8 days in advance. The reason for that is to avoid sallary dumping, which makes sense, since salaries can be significantly larger in Switzerland and their minimums are negotiated in binding contracts between unions and employers.
The EU thinks those requirements are too restrictive and the unions in Switzerland fight tooth and nail against softening those requirements. Befor yelling unions! I have to say their position is understandable. The risk of hit and run contractors working for 1/3rd of the negotiated sallaries is just too big.
My prediction is that middle ground will be found eventually after the EU plays some hardball.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Swiss_immigration_initiat...
edit : some clarifications and spellos
Norway and Switzerland are subject to almost all the EU regulations but unlike the UK have no say, much less veto, in the making or enforcement of those rules. Is that situation really what Brexiteers wanted?