Fall session concluded These 17 proposals have been approved

The Federal Assembly concluded the fall session on Friday with the final votes. 17 bills have been approved by parliament:

Keystone-SDA

27.09.2024, 10:09

27.09.2024, 10:49

SDA

- by 131 votes to 61 with 3 abstentions (National Council) and 31 votes to 10 with no abstentions (Council of States), amendments to the Environmental Protection Act regulating the construction of residential buildings in areas subject to high levels of noise pollution and the remediation of polluted sites;

- by 124 votes to 67 with 4 abstentions (National Council) and 29 votes to 13 with no abstentions (Council of States), amendments to the Nature and Cultural Heritage Protection Act, which restrict the right of associations to lodge complaints about smaller residential buildings in construction areas;

- by 133 votes to 61 with one abstention (National Council) and 31 votes to 11 with no abstentions (Council of States), the federal decree with which Parliament recommends the Young Greens' environmental responsibility initiative to the people and the cantons for rejection;

- by 127 votes to 68 with no abstentions (National Council) and 38 votes to 4 with no abstentions (Council of States), amendments to the Swiss Federal Railways Act, which allow a capital subsidy to SBB and regulate loans from the Confederation to SBB;

- by 113 votes to 79 with 3 abstentions (National Council) and 29 votes to 12 with one abstention (Council of States) the extension of the federal government's daycare stimulus program until the end of 2026;

- by 133 votes to 62 with no abstentions (National Council) and 42 votes to 0 with no abstentions (Council of States) the law on budget relief, under which the unemployment insurance scheme will receive less money from the federal government for five years;

- by 174 votes to 13 with 7 abstentions (National Council) and 42 votes to 0 with no abstentions (Council of States) an amendment to the Forest Act, according to which forest owners and purchasers of raw timber can agree on target prices in future;

- by 195 votes to 0 with no abstentions (National Council) and 42 votes to 0 with no abstentions (Council of States), amendments to the law on the processing of compulsory welfare measures and placements prior to 1981, so that solidarity contributions from cantons and municipalities to victims do not lead to a reduction in any bridging or supplementary benefits;

- by 195 votes to 0 with no abstentions (National Council) and 41 votes to 0 with no abstentions (Council of States) an amendment to the Languages Act to allow the federal government to promote Italian and Romansh outside the traditional areas;

- by 105 votes to 65 with 25 abstentions (National Council) and 41 votes to 1 with no abstentions (Council of States), amendments to the Research Promotion Act to simplify the planning of infrastructure for the Cern nuclear research center;

- by 195 votes to 0 with no abstentions (National Council) and 42 votes to 0 with no abstentions (Council of States) the Act on the Conclusion of International Agreements on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications;

- by 195 votes to 0 with no abstentions (National Council) and 42 votes to 0 with no abstentions (Council of States) the agreement between Switzerland and the United Kingdom on the recognition of professional qualifications. The Federal Council is authorized to ratify the agreement;

- the Free Trade Agreement between the EFTA States and the Republic of Moldova by 191 votes to 0 with one abstention (National Council) and 42 votes to 0 with no abstentions (Council of States). The Federal Council is authorized to ratify the agreement;

- amendments to the Vocational Training Act by 129 votes to 66 with no abstentions (National Council) and 42 votes to 0 with no abstentions (Council of States). They concern the approval of lump-sum contributions to the cantons and contributions to higher professional examinations;

- by 133 votes to 62 with no abstentions (National Council) and 41 votes to 1 with no abstentions (Council of States) the increase in tuition fees at the Federal Institutes of Technology in Lausanne and Zurich for foreign students domiciled abroad. These must now amount to at least three times the fees for students in Switzerland;

- by 130 votes to 65 with no abstentions (National Council) and 36 votes to 5 with one abstention (Council of States), amendments to the Higher Education Funding and Coordination Act concerning the composition of the Swiss Accreditation Council;

- by 129 votes to 65 with no abstentions (National Council) and 37 votes to 4 with one abstention (Council of States), amendments to the Research and Innovation Promotion Act regulating the reserves of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences.

With the exception of Parliament's voting recommendation on the environmental responsibility initiative, all decisions are subject to an optional referendum. There is no referendum on any of the proposals.