b'to EU citizens. Brussels reacted strongly,The next test was Croatia. The EU had indeed with anger and outright hostility.expected Switzerland to pass legislation to open the Swiss labour market to immigration On 9 February 2014, the Swiss electoratefrom the new member state of Croatia by 1 voted in favour of the initiative StopmassJuly 2014. But Switzerland has refused to immigration.The referendum demandedsign this in its current form. that Switzerland have autonomous control of immigration by means of quantitative limitsIn retaliation, the EU suspended some joint and quotas, as well as a renegotiation andprogrammes, but notably the EU did not adaptation of international treaties48 suspend key agreements on market access. The EU postponed negotiations on Swiss In that referendum, 50.3% of Swiss votersparticipationin both the EUs 80 billion voted in favour of immigration quotas. TheHorizon 2020 research program and its 14.7 Swiss government was given three years tobillion Erasmus+ educational exchange decide on Swiss quota thresholds.programme. Both schemes cover the period from 2014 to 2020. But that was it. The vote swiftly led to an offensive of words from the EU. The EU immediately respondedSince the February 2014 referendum, the that if the new Swiss laws were to breachSwiss Peoples Party (SVP)which EU rules on the free movement of people,organised the referendumhas become Switzerland could be cut off from the EUsmore popular. In General Elections held on Single Market. Within days, the EU went18 October 2015, the Swiss Peoples Party further than words. The EU delayed anachieved 29.5% of the vote for (the lower energy treaty with Switzerland. The benefithouse of) Parliament. to Switzerland would have been possibly cheaper energy. However, Switzerland itselfAs of February 2019, the EU has still not is an electricity power hub, so the efficacy ofimplemented any firm sanctions against this punishment was undermined.Switzerland for its unilateral decision to limit 83'