Switzerland intends to extend restrictions on immigration to Western European countries for a period of one year.
The government is to apply a limit to the number of work permits issued from May for 12 months.
Switzerland is not a member of the European Union and already has limits on eight eastern EU states.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement the measures were in violation of the bloc's free movement agreement.
Switzerland has low unemployment and a safe currency.
A BBC correspondent said large numbers of highly skilled workers from Germany and France were seeking jobs in Switzerland Even before the start of the eurozone crisis and many more have arrived in the last two years from Spain, Portugal and Italy.
A government statement said the number of people arriving in Switzerland exceeded the number leaving by up to 80,000 in recent years.
