After almost 20 years, the time has come: Switzerland and the EU signed the Bilateral III treaty package on Monday. Now it’s Parliament’s turn.
03/03/2026, 05:5103/03/2026, 05:51
Remo Hess, Brussels, Stefan Bühler / ch media
War in Ukraine, war in Iran: a storm may be raging in geopolitical Europe. But in the eye of this storm it is as quiet as a mouse. Only the quiet scratching of fountain pens could be heard when Federal President Guy Parmelin and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signed the new bilateral agreements on Monday at the EU headquarters in Brussels.
Guy Parmelin and Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels.Image: keystone
Parmelin’s party, the SVP, speaks of a “subordination agreement”. And to claim that your Federal Councilor made a particularly happy impression at the signing would probably be a lie. But Parmelin did what he had to do. He dutifully and at record speed signed a total of 18 signatures on the contract documents. So quickly that the Commission President jokingly remarked:
“You’re faster than me.”
Parmelin didn’t show any signs of it. After five minutes the ceremony was complete. And with it the political project that the Federal Council and the EU have been working on for almost 20 years.
Parmelin, of all people, signs the “friendship contract”
Von der Leyen spoke of an “investment in our common future” and congratulated Parmelin and the entire Federal Council for their “leadership, commitment and determination”. A polite phrase – or a subtle aside? After all, it was Parmelin himself who was at von der Leyen’s side in spring 2021.
At that time he came to pull the plug on the framework agreement that had already been negotiated. The state government considered the institutional burden that it should have swallowed with the dynamic legal takeover to be too large. Now, five years later, Parmelin is back to sign the “friendship treaty,” as former Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker once called it.
Back then the mood was frostier: Parmelin and von der Leyen 2021.Image: keystone
When asked about the irony of history, the Federal President matter-of-factly pointed out that he was here as a representative of the entire Federal Council, both then and now. Compared to 2021, the state government is now of the opinion that the agreement is “balanced and in the interests of the state”. In his statement, he also highlighted the geopolitical developments that made stabilizing bilateral relations all the more necessary. Von der Leyen also explicitly emphasized the importance of a partnership in the context of geopolitical instability.
However, not everything is now settled between Switzerland and the EU. On the contrary: According to Federal President Parmelin, who is also the Minister of Economic Affairs, the Federal Council hopes, based on the newfound trust, to be able to clarify any questions that might otherwise arise.
What he meant by that: The EU recently imposed new steel and aluminum tariffs, which also affect Switzerland. In addition, a new law is likely to come to the table this week, which will give European companies priority in certain areas under the slogan “Buy European”.
The Federal Council expects that Switzerland “must be an integral part of any solution to increase competitiveness in Europe,” said Parmelin. Von der Leyen picked up the ball and assured that there was “absolutely no interest in not including Switzerland.” Parmelin was allowed to note this point.
Will there be a showdown between the experts?
With the signing of the contracts in Brussels, a disconnection process begins in Bern. The Federal Council is expected to adopt the message on the new EU treaties in two weeks, on March 13th. The dossier then passes into the hands of Parliament.
The Council of States will be the first to deal with Bilateral III. As far as the treaties themselves are concerned, there is no room for maneuver: the negotiated texts are final and Parliament can no longer change them. However, it can determine the voting procedure domestically and adapt implementing laws.
The most heated debate is emerging over the question of whether the EU package will be subject to an optional or mandatory referendum. In the optional referendum, the popular majority is enough. In the case of a mandatory referendum, the majority of the cantons must also agree. The opponents of Bilateral III are calling for a mandatory referendum, while the majority of supporters are calling for an optional referendum.
According to “Nebelspalter”, the State Political Commission of the Council of States wants to hold a public hearing with experts on this issue. It is common for a commission to hear experts. However, the fact that she does it publicly is unusual.
When it comes to electricity, the next row is looming with Brussels
The question of whether the controversial electricity agreement should remain part of the package is also likely to be discussed in the Federal Parliament. Trade unions and the left are against the liberalization of the electricity market. In order not to jeopardize the package, the idea is circulating in Bern to deal with the templates in two stages. First, the so-called stabilization package with the institutional elements in the previous bilateral agreements. The new contracts on electricity and food security would then be discussed later and presented to the people.
In Brussels, people don’t think much of this strategy: high-ranking EU officials say that the package is put together as a whole and cannot be divided.
A left-right divide is also emerging when it comes to wage protection, with “Measure 14”. It provides for improved protection against dismissal for union representatives in companies with 50 or more employees. Business and citizens consider the provision to be irrelevant. Some leftists and trade unions are threatening to collapse the overall package if this measure is dropped in parliament.
Meanwhile, civil forces are likely to strive for a tightening of the protective clause against strong, rapidly increasing immigration. The Federal Council wants to examine measures if net immigration from the EU amounts to more than 0.74 percent of Switzerland’s total population in a year. Today that would be the case with an increase of 65,000 EU citizens. For many people this is not strict enough. It will be exciting to see whether the SVP agrees to tightening the protective clause. It usually fights with all means against immigration – but an improved safeguard clause could increase the chances of the EU treaties at the ballot box.
With the halberd against the EU: The SVP around President Marcel Dettling is sticking to its rhetoric.Image: keystone
Ultimately, the center is pushing for Parliament to have an early say in the adoption of new EU law. The claim is little disputed. However, it could lead to increased support for the package in the undecided middle. (aargauerzeitung.ch)