Abstract

Switzerland's attitude towards the EEC is typical of the new foreign policy adopted by that country in 1947 under the heading «Neutrality and Solidarity».A number of centrifugal factors have kept Switzerland out of the EEC, although many other factors, economic and commercial in particular, but alsoideological, cultural, politica! and geographical ones tend towards closer ties with the EEC, and have acted as «centripetal» farces. The main «centrifugal» factors were: Swiss neutrality, the federal system and direct democracy, certain economic elements such as the fiscal and agricultural systems, and especially psychological factors including attitudes and ideas concerning the EEC and the consequences of membership.Moreover, timely corrections and adaptations in the international commercial field havereduced the necessity to seek a closer relationship with the Community.