Switzerland's parliament has voted to withdraw its long-standing application for membership of the EU - amid a deepening row about migration.

The country's National Council has backed a symbolic motion to retract the country's 24-year-old bid to join what was then the European Economic Community (EEC).

Lukas Reimann from the Swiss People's Party (SVP) argued it was 'high time' to make the move, as the country is battling with the European Commission about restricting free movement.

Switzerland's parliament (pictured) has voted to withdraw its long-standing 24 year application for membership of the EU with Lukas Reimann from the Swiss People's Party arguing it is 'high time' to make the move

He secured the support of 126 out of 200 deputies in the lower house in the vote on Tuesday, and the decision will be reviewed by the senate in the coming months.

Mr Reimann said Switzerland should no longer be treated as a county which wanted to join the EU.

Switzerland has never been a member of EU but has enjoyed free trade with the bloc since the 1970s by accepting most of its laws. It accepts free movement of people and is also a member of the Schengen borderless travel zone.

Two years ago the Swiss public voted in a referendum to impose immigration quotas, which would involve their government renegotiating its various bilateral deals with the EU.

However Brussels has refused to grant their request - saying to curb free movement, Switzerland would have to give up its free trade access.

Talks are now said to be on hold until Britain votes on June 23.

Switzerland is often upheld as an example of a country which thrives outside the EU.

A bid to join the bloc was made in May 1992, but the Swiss people – who have several referendums every year – rejected it in a poll seven months later.

Instead, it has a web of some 120 agreements with the EU, but its access to the single market does not include financial services hence many Swiss banks are based in London to access the single market.

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Foreign minister Didier Burkhalter pointed out that Switzerland's application has already been void since 1992.

He called the motion 'unnecessary' because Switzerland does not intend to join and is considered by the Union to be an 'independent, sovereign nation'.

But the move is symbolic of the tensions within Europe fuelled by the migration crisis.

Switzerland has a population of 8million and one of the highest foreign populations per capita in Europe. The anti-immigration SVP is now Switzerland's largest party after an election last October.

Stephen Booth, co-director of the think tank Open Europe said: 'Because it has free movement and Schengen, Switzerland is probably more integrated with Europe than Britain despite not being a member.

'This vote is only symbolic, as there is no suggestion of Switzerland joining the EU but it's connected with a number of running sores they are having with the EU, including over free movement.

'When you have direct democracy in a referendum – as the Swiss did over restricting migration - the government is expected to do something about the outcome.'

The Swiss – who voted by just 50.3pc to impose quotas on immigration back in February 2014 - are also having issues with the EU over the terms of free trade, and the European Court of Justice. The government has threatened to draw up its own plans to limit the flow of migrants if the issue is not resolved by February 2017.

Unlike Switzerland, Norway and Iceland are members of the European Economic Area, with full access to the single market. Norwegian prime minister Erna Solberg yesterday indicated she was perfectly happy to be outside the EU after a holding a meeting with Commission president Jean Claude Juncker in Brussels.

She told reporters the relationship was 'strong', adding: 'I would like to say that Norway and the EU are close partners, and the EEA is a solid pillar for cooperation.'