Switzerland Council of States advances EU bilateral agreement package

Switzerland’s Council of States has completed its first examination of the Bilaterals III package, a major set of agreements aimed at stabilizing relations with the European Union. While the upper house broadly approved the package, it introduced significant amendments that could complicate ratification.

Most notably, the Council of States proposed that any national referendum on the treaty must require both a majority of voters and a majority of the cantons (a 'Ständemehr'). This requirement would grant greater weight to smaller, more conservative rural regions. The package, which covers areas such as free movement, electricity, state aid, and health coordination, must now proceed to the National Council for debate.

Other key developments include the approval of measures to ensure EU students pay the same tuition fees as Swiss students, reversing recent local increases. Additionally, the Council of States moved to strengthen parliamentary oversight by proposing a permanent representative office in Brussels to better monitor EU legislative processes and the dynamic adoption of EU law.