Result of consultation: clear majority for Swiss–EU package

During the consultation period, which lasted from 13 June to 31 October 2025, 318 responses were received. The results of the consultation are set out in an interim report that the Federal Council took note of and published today. The interim report shows that a clear majority of consultation participants view both the Swiss-EU package as a whole and the outcome of the negotiations favourably. The individual aspects of the package also met with majority approval, albeit to varying degrees. The bilateral approach as a means of shaping relations with the EU received very clear support compared with the other options (inaction, free trade, joining the EEA, joining the EU). Several requests for clarification or adjustment were made regarding how the agreements would be implemented domestically. The Federal Council examined these requests in detail, took a number of decisions and issued instructions to have the dispatch finalised accordingly.

Transparency concerning the dynamic adoption of EU law developments

The Federal Council is endeavouring to ensure the greatest possible transparency with regard to the institutional elements, especially decision-shaping and the dynamic adoption of EU law developments, and to define the domestic processes clearly.

Regarding parliamentary involvement, the Federal Council proposes adding a new article – 152a – to the Parliament Act to establish specific rules governing the process of informing and consulting Parliament within the framework of decision-shaping (involvement in the drafting of EU law relevant to Switzerland). The Foreign Affairs Committees and the other specialised committees with competence for the agreements will be involved in this. In addition, the Federal Council wishes to ensure Parliament's involvement in the further processes relating to the institutional elements (dynamic adoption of EU law developments, dispute settlement and compensatory measures) within the framework of Article 152 of the Parliament Act.

The modalities of Parliament's involvement on the basis of Articles 152 and 152a of the Parliament Act are to be governed by a Federal Council directive clarifying how Parliament will be involved in all stages of the institutional processes. The directive is to be drawn up with the involvement of the presidencies of the National Council and Council of States, the relevant committees and the Parliamentary Services.

The Federal Council also proposes making all public decision-shaping-relevant EU documents accessible in Switzerland. The standing participants in consultation procedures and the parties concerned should also be notified of such publications.

The Federal Council's last proposal is to submit to Parliament a monitoring report on the functioning of the institutional elements of the package once per legislative period as part of its report on relations with the EU.

The involvement of the cantons in the institutional elements will be governed by an agreement between the Confederation and the cantons, which is currently being drawn up as mandated by the Federal Council on 15 October 2025.

Backing for two-pillar approach to state aid

The majority of statements support the proposed institutional structure of a monitoring authority (a separate chamber for state aid monitoring, to be part of COMCO, the Competition Commission) and the two-pillar approach to the monitoring of Swiss state aid by the Swiss monitoring authority and Swiss courts. The amendments to the draft legislation on state aid monitoring simplify the procedures for aid providers and the monitoring authority. The administrative assistance between the monitoring authority and the federal and cantonal authorities, as well as the framework for the exchange of information between the Swiss monitoring authority and the European Commission will also be clarified.

Safeguard clause: greater involvement of the cantons and the social partners

During the consultation process, there were calls for greater involvement of the cantons and cantonal social partners in the domestic implementation of the safeguard clause. Various statements concern the indicators and thresholds for triggering the safeguard clause, as well as the regional and sector-specific structure of the protective measures. The calls made are detailed either in the draft Foreign Nationals and Integration Act or in additional explanations in the dispatch.

Federal support for higher education institutions

With regard to the equal treatment of Swiss and EU students in terms of tuition fees at universities and universities of applied sciences, the consultation process highlighted the call for an increase in the federal government's contribution to compensate for the loss of income suffered by these institutions. The Federal Council has allayed this concern by deciding that the losses incurred by the cantons and their universities will be offset in full by federal support for a limited period of four years.

Wage protection: domestic accompanying measures

The Federal Council notes that the outcome of the negotiations in combination with the accompanying domestic measures was largely viewed favourably. The 13 domestic accompanying measures agreed upon by the social partners, the cantons and the federal government received broad support during the consultation process. This was not the case for the additional measure 14 proposed by the Federal Council. That measure concerns improved protection for social partnership at company level and, specifically, for employee representatives who are elected or serving as members of an employee benefits institution's joint commission, and for members of national industry boards operating under a collective employment agreement declared generally applicable. Although a majority rejects this measure, the Federal Council considers it indispensable to ensuring that the wage protection package remains balanced and to fulfilling Switzerland's obligations to the International Labour Organization. The Federal Council has therefore instructed the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) to continue discussions with the social partners on a possible compromise solution.

Overland Transport Agreement: moving social standards provisions from directive up to ordinance level

During the consultation process, one of the demands made was to place the planned social standards provisions at a higher level than that of a directive. The Federal Council has decided to do so by putting them into an ordinance instead of a directive. Regarding capacity allocation, the outcome of the negotiations provides for applications for international rail passenger transport (from both foreign and Swiss railway companies) to be given priority for remaining capacities in the annual timetable. The Federal Council has decided that based on the results of the consultation, this arrangement will be elevated to the level of an Act in Swiss law for greater transparency and clarity.

EU programmes: positive impact on competitiveness

In the area of education, research and innovation, affiliation to the Horizon package (consisting of the Horizon Europe, Euratom and Digital Europe programmes, as well as ITER) and to Erasmus+ was welcomed by a large majority of those who expressed an opinion on this topic. In particular, the integration into international research and mobility networks and the positive impact on Switzerland's competitiveness and innovation were highlighted. The funds whose parliamentary approval is required for affiliation to Erasmus+, which will allow Switzerland to participate from 2027, will be specified within the framework of the dispatch. With the early signing of the Swiss-EU programme agreement on 10 November 2025, Switzerland has regained its affiliation to Horizon Europe, the Euratom programme and the Digital Europe programme, and will also participate in ITER again from 2026.

More Swissness in the Swiss contribution

Various statements called for greater involvement of Swiss partners in the implementation of the Swiss contribution to reducing economic and social disparities within the EU. The Federal Council therefore decided to simplify the procedures in the Cohesion Contribution Act in order to specifically promote partnerships with Swiss actors who contribute specific Swiss expertise.

Electricity: basic supply threshold, minimum remuneration for solar power, and utilisation of hydropower

Several aspects of domestic implementation were discussed during the consultation process. Regarding basic supply, the Federal Council has tasked DETEC to work with the FDFA to submit proposals by the end of January 2026 on how to adjust the basic supply threshold in ways that allow small businesses with high electricity consumption to also remain in the basic supply system.

Accompanying measures in basic supply regulation for the purpose of consumer protection are to be retained. Regulations that could lead to risks for basic suppliers will be removed where appropriate.

The Federal Council has also decided to maintain the abolition of the minimum remuneration for solar power from photovoltaic systems. For systems under 150 kilowatts that are put into operation after 1 January 2026 and before the electricity agreement comes into force, the minimum remuneration will continue for three years. The further expansion of renewable energies as set out in the electricity agreement is not being put at risk.

Concerning the impact of the electricity agreement on the use of hydropower, the Federal Council has decided to provide further clarification on the matters of awarding licences, reversion, water rates and public ownership in the dispatch.

Agriculture and food safety: border protection assured

As regards agriculture and food safety, calls were made for explicit safeguards for border protection for agricultural products and autonomy in shaping agricultural policy. The Swiss-EU package secures these points, but further clarifications will be provided in the dispatch. With regard to the protocol on food safety, clarifications on specific issues will be made, specifying for example that the requirement for animals to be stunned before religious slaughter (shechita) will remain in place. Other questions concerned Switzerland's leeway in domestic implementation, for example in the occasional distribution of food at festivals or markets. Less stringent regulations apply in such contexts, in both Switzerland and the EU, meaning that nothing will change in practice. Several demands concerning implementation law will be incorporated into the drafting at ordinance-level. Finally, many comments stem from comprehension issues or concern areas not covered by the Swiss-EU package. The dispatch will address these comments by providing additional explanations, details and clarifications.

Next steps

The departments concerned and the Federal Chancellery have been tasked with implementing the adjustments agreed on today, in cooperation with the FDFA. It is expected that the Federal Council dispatch on the ‘Stabilisation and further development of Swiss-EU relations’ package (Bilaterals III) will be submitted to Parliament in March 2026.