Switzerland opens the door to Britain rejoining EFTA

Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann said on Monday his country would consider letting Britain join the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) when it eventually leaves the European Union following June's Brexit referendum.

"I told my colleagues if the U.K. approaches EFTA to explore the possibility of joining EFTA, Switzerland would be open to discussions," Johann Schneider-Ammann told the Geneva Press Club after an EFTA ministerial meeting.

Schneider-Ammann added another solution would be a free trade agreement between Britain and EFTA, the small club of nations – Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland – that has access to the European single market without being part of the EU.

A country-to-country arrangement could also be considered, Schneider-Ammann said. "Switzerland wants to avoid a legal void when the UK leaves the EU," he said. "Therefore all options are open."