Study: A majority of Swiss are critical of the EU

Only 13 percent of Swiss people are in favor of the European Union having a greater influence on their country, while a third believe it is already too great. This is the result of the Reader's Digent European Trusted Brands 2006 study, which asked over 25,000 people in 14 countries, including around 1,100 in Switzerland, about their most trusted institutions and brands. For just under half of the Swiss respondents, the current relationship with the EU and the bilateral approach are fine. The reason for the rather negative vote is that 89% of the Swiss consider the bureaucracy in the EU to be too great. This is also why 79% of Swiss respondents have more confidence in the Swiss Federal Council than in the EU government. The EU member states Austria, Finland and the UK are even more critical of the EU. In addition, Reader's Digest also asked participants about their trust in their own country's politics. Security policy scored best in Switzerland, with 67% having great confidence in it. Switzerland's environmental policy (56%) and trade policy (56%) also earned the great trust of its citizens.