EU, Swiss Reach Immigration Accord, Bringing Broader Deal Closer

Switzerland and the European Union reached a compromise on immigration, overcoming a major sticking point and potentially paving the way for a new deal on bilateral relations, according to people familiar with the talks.

The provisional accord involves a reworked safeguard immigration clause for Switzerland, seen as a way to help the government sell any deal to voters in a referendum. However, Switzerland can’t implement the brake unilaterally, but needs the agreement of the EU or approval of an arbitration tribunal, according to the people, requesting anonymity because the discussions are private.