Switzerland - EU Council of States committees disagree on majority of cantons for EU package
In the Council of States, the question of whether the people and the cantons must approve the EU treaty package or whether a majority of the people is sufficient is controversial. While the Political Institutions Committee is calling for a majority of the cantons, the Foreign Affairs Committee is in favor of a majority of the people alone.
22.05.2026, 18:20
SDA
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Council of States (FAC-S) adopted three co-reports on the treaty package, as reported by the parliamentary services on Friday. By 8 votes to 5, it rejected the idea of subjecting the package to a mandatory referendum and thus also to a majority of the cantons.
The majority of the APK-S believes that the Federal Council's draft does not meet the requirements for a mandatory referendum. Consequently, the stabilization part of the Bilaterals III should only be subject to an optional referendum. This would only require a popular majority for a yes vote, which is considered easier to achieve.
The majority of the APK-S also does not consider it necessary to insert a transitional provision in the constitution to allow the conclusion of the protocol of amendment on the free movement of persons. No new right of residence is envisaged that would contradict the immigration article in the constitution, it states.
However, the minority of the APK-S sees this contradiction and therefore considers the transitional provision in the constitution to be necessary. This should exempt the EU package from the ban on concluding international treaties that prevent Switzerland from controlling immigration independently.
The APK-S voted 8 to 5 against the parliamentary initiative with which the Political Institutions Committee of the Council of States (SPK-S) wants to link the bill.
In connection with the free movement of persons, the APK-S wants, among other things, the status of EU citizens as gainfully employed persons to be defined more precisely. Residence rights should also have to be reviewed if there are indications that the conditions for residence under the EU agreement are no longer met.
The APK-S will continue detailed discussions on the EU package after the summer break. The Council of States should be able to discuss the bill in the coming fall session, according to the press release.
