¶ Consultation Procedure and Results
Source: Dispatch 26.023, Chapter 1.7 (pp. 65--73)
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The consultation on the Switzerland-EU package took place from 13 June to 31 October 2025. The large majority of regularly invited consultation participants supported the proposal, whilst calling for adjustments particularly regarding participation (decision shaping), wage protection, the electricity agreement and tuition fees.
The consultation draft comprised the agreements, the implementing legislation and the accompanying measures. It was opened by the Federal Council on 13 June 2025.
The consultation showed broad support for the bilateral path and the package approach. At the same time, numerous requests for adjustments were put forward:
- 15 cantons and 7 parties supported the optional referendum
- The large majority of business associations, social partners and regular participants endorsed the package
- Broad support for participation in Erasmus+
¶ Criticism and demands
- Decision shaping: Demand for greater transparency and stronger participation of Parliament, the cantons and the public
- Wage protection: Adjustments to measure 14 (protection against dismissal for employee representatives) requested
- Electricity agreement: Protection of hydropower concessions, solutions for energy-intensive SMEs, transitional period for solar energy remuneration
- Tuition fees: Full assumption of shortfalls by the Confederation demanded
- Cantonal majority: Some participants called for a mandatory referendum
- The SVP and EDU rejected the package
- Autonomie Suisse opposed the bilateral path
¶ Federal Council's assessment and adjustments
The Federal Council considered the consultation results and made the following main adjustments:
- Full transparency in decision shaping -- everything will be publicly accessible
- Special participation of specialised parliamentary committees
- Cantons at the table where their competences are affected (agreement under negotiation)
- Electricity agreement: Special solution for SMEs, 3-year transitional period for solar, hydropower concessions exempted
- State aid: Strengthened cantonal participation in the state aid chamber
- Safeguard clause: Greater involvement of cantons
- Universities: Confederation assumes tuition fee shortfalls for 4 years
- Measure 14 wage protection adjusted
- Land transport: Swiss social standards in international passenger transport
- Agriculture: Border protection specified, stunning requirement clarified
- 15 cantons and 7 parties for the optional referendum
- Only SVP and EDU for the mandatory referendum
- Federal Council proposes the optional referendum on international treaties (conditions for mandatory referendum not met)
[1] Dispatch 26.023, Chapter 1.7 (pp. 65--73)
[2] FDFA: Switzerland-EU package