BERN - The Federal Council approved the Switzerland-EU agreements on Friday and opened a domestic consultation until 31 October. The texts cover sectoral market participation, electricity, health, food safety, wage protection and a safeguard if immigration rises too fast. Negotiations with Brussels had been closed in December 2024 and initialled in May.
The government presented the package as a continuation of the bilateral path, not a new course. The SVP called it a course by another name. Unions said they would read the posting rules before they read the press release.
The ballot question is the trap
Whether the package needs a cantonal majority will decide the next two years of speeches. Friday did not settle that. It started the clock.