Swiss even more hostile to EU entry idea than last year

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Damn these Swiss and their chocolate, mountains, clocks, stolen art and able democratic government! That said, we would have similar opposition if we had never joined it. The only reason a lot of people support is now because they've been scared into thinking there's no way back and we'll just have to take the poison.

Not surprising in my view. I imagine if member states held referendums, the EU would all but completely collapse.

This is no wonder when you look at it from a economic point of view, as Switzerland has always been ahead in terms of EU countries on wealth measures. There's another obvious country in the same situation, and that is Norway.

Given Europe's current economic woes, is it any wonder?

I think part of the EU's problem is that it allowed a bunch of economically-weak countries at the far eastern edge of Europe to join, and join quickly. Among other things, this caused mass migrations of workers to stronger nations, where they over-saturated the job market and drove down wages for everyone.
You can't have a successful common currency without a centralized economic policy.

Not surprised by this at all.

While I am definitely in favour of regional integration to some extent, I think the EU has taken it way too far. I've been waiting for it to come tumbling down like a pack of cards for some time now.

It would be good for America to divide into about 4 to 6 countries, perhaps with a common currency. We are too large, and there is too much power and money in the hands of our elected officials. This has resulted in almost incomprehensible levels of corruption. Our different regions have different economic bases and different cultures, and each could better look after its own interests without the input of these millionaire "representatives" from afar.

The Swiss weren't even apart of the UN until 10 or so years ago.

If you're already a developed country, why would you want to join the EU?

The Swiss being against the EU is obvious, they have a hell of a lot more to lose than gain by membership. They aren't Greece, Italy, Spain who would get cheaper loans if they joined, they largely have access to the markets already through trade agreements, they currently run a very responsible fiscal policy and so on.

There is no reason for a country to join the EU when there is nothing for them to gain. Germany gained a huge export market, Italy, Spain, Greece, and so on gained the ability to borrow money as if they were running responsible, conservative budgets and a positive trade balance.