Bilateral III: green light from European Parliament's foreign affairs committee

The European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee approved on Thursday in Brussels the new package of agreements between the European Union and Switzerland, known as Bilateral III. The vote was largely favourable: 51 in favour, 3 against and 9 abstentions. The next step is a vote in the Strasbourg plenary, which could take place before the end of the year.

The dossier's rapporteur, French MEP Christophe Grudler, called the vote an important step and asked that the ratification process be completed as quickly as possible, so that citizens on both sides do not lose the benefits provided by the agreements.

Respect for Switzerland's timeline

While moving quickly, the European Union stressed that it wants to respect the timeline of Swiss direct democracy. Grudler stated: "Rispettiamo pienamente il dibattito democratico svizzero e le decisioni che il Parlamento ed eventualmente il popolo svizzero prenderanno" (We fully respect the Swiss democratic debate and the decisions that Parliament, and possibly the Swiss people, will make).

Asked about the double-majority requirement for a possible popular vote, the MEP avoided commenting on Switzerland's institutional choices: "La questione della doppia maggioranza deve essere decisa dagli svizzeri. Va da sé che un voto popolare molto importante lo rispettiamo totalmente. Più in fretta si fa, meglio è, dal nostro punto di vista. Ma comprendiamo perfettamente che le elezioni federali sono alla fine del 2027 e che la data della primavera 2028 sembra la più ragionevole" (The double-majority question must be decided by the Swiss. Naturally, we fully respect such an important popular vote. The faster it happens, the better, from our point of view. But we fully understand that the federal elections are at the end of 2027 and that spring 2028 seems the most reasonable date).

In Bern, there is also debate over a possible bond that Swiss companies would have to pay for hiring foreign workers, a measure that could clash with the principle of free movement of people. Grudler preferred not to comment on the substance until the proposal takes concrete shape, but recalled the agreement's general binding effect: "Posso soltanto dire che quando si è in un accordo bilaterale, un accordo globale sottoscritto insieme, qualsiasi legislazione svizzera o europea che andasse contro l'accordo lo renderebbe caduco e porrebbe dei problemi di merito" (I can only say that when you are part of a bilateral agreement, a comprehensive agreement signed together, any Swiss or European legislation that went against the agreement would render it void and would raise substantive problems).

Brussels is thus sending a dual message: a commitment to pursue ratification as quickly as possible, and at the same time, an assurance that Switzerland's direct democratic procedures will be fully respected.