08/16/2025August 16, 2025
German politician proposes EU membership for Switzerland
German lawmaker Omid Nouripour has suggested that could become a member of the .
“The German government should offer Switzerland the opportunity to quickly deepen cooperation, up to turbo membership in the EU,” Nouripour, who is vice president of the German lower house of parliament (the Bundestag), told the German DPA news agency.
“If our Swiss friends want to move closer to the European Union in light of new times, Germany should actively support this,” he added.
US President Donald Trump has imposed a hefty 39% tariff on imports from Switzerland, far higher than the 15% tariff on most products from the EU.
Swiss economic associations have claimed this has put tens of thousands of jobs at risk.
With a population of 9 million, Switzerland relies heavily on exports, with the US being the most important market, accounting for 18% in 2024.
“For centuries, the Swiss have maintained a tradition of strict neutrality,” said Nouripour. “However, the recent tariff dispute with Donald Trump painfully shows how vulnerable smaller states are when they are left to fend for themselves. Politically neutral, economically global — That no longer works in the new era.”
“From a Swiss perspective, the EU may not be the best choice, but it is by far the more reliable one,” he said.
For now, EU membership seems unlikely, with Switzerland’s strongest party by votes, the right-wing populist Swiss People’s Party (SVP), strictly against the notion.
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