Swiss Council of States backs EU treaty package in principle

Switzerland’s Council of States voted 29 to 15 to proceed with detailed debate on a new package of agreements with the European Union after hours of discussion, SRF reports.

The vote followed a debate lasting more than five hours. The seven-member Swiss People’s Party group opposed taking up the proposal, along with four members each from the Centre and Liberal parties. The Social Democrats, the Greens and the Green Liberals supported it, as did most members of the Centre and Liberal parties.

Opponents warned that the agreements would weaken popular rights and put Switzerland under the jurisdiction of the EU courts. Swiss People’s Party members also said the package would significantly increase immigration. Supporters argued that rejecting it could erode existing agreements with the EU. The government’s proposal is the result of a compromise negotiated over a long period among political parties, cantons and social partners, said Carlo Sommaruga, a Social Democratic member of the Council of States and head of its Foreign Affairs Committee.

The Council of States is expected to debate the package’s details until Wednesday evening. Disputed issues include referendums, wage protections, immigration, the adoption of EU law, state aid, education and research.

Negotiations between Switzerland and the EU ran from March to December 2024. The package comprises 94 EU legal acts, 18 agreements and protocols, and two joint declarations. Most of the agreements were signed in Brussels on March 2, 2026, by Swiss President Guy Parmelin and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.