Swiss upper house raises hurdles for EU treaty package

Switzerland’s Council of States has backed continued stable relations with the European Union but raised the hurdles for approving a new treaty package, SRF reported. It decided the deal should require a double majority of voters and cantons in a referendum, against the Federal Council’s position.

After a debate lasting about 24 hours, supporters said the agreements would preserve the established bilateral approach while giving Swiss businesses access to the EU single market and supporting exchanges in education, research and innovation. They argued the package was tailored to Switzerland, with institutional questions settled and exceptions included.

Opponents warned that the agreements would undermine Swiss sovereignty through the dynamic adoption of EU law and weaken the country’s democratic system and federalism. Some members, particularly from Ticino and eastern and central Switzerland, invoked Friedrich Schiller’s “William Tell” and the hat placed on a pole in the play during the debate over whether voters and cantons should decide on the treaties.

On wage protection, the Council of States backed the Federal Council’s compromise with employers, unions and cantons, despite a proposal by the relevant committee to take a different approach. Thirteen domestic measures are intended to protect Swiss wage levels when employees of foreign companies work in Switzerland. Another measure would protect employee representatives from abusive dismissal.

The chamber took a tougher line on immigration, changing several provisions and tightening requirements in ways that could conflict with the EU’s free movement of people. One new demand is for a criminal record extract. The Council also approved funding for the Erasmus+ education and sports exchange programme, after opponents of the funding lost the debate.

Agreements on food safety and health attracted relatively little debate. They can take effect only if the part of the package covering institutional issues is approved. The treaties, also known as Bilaterals III, now go to the National Council, which will consider the amended proposal.