Focus on European treaties: SVP warns of loss of sovereignty!

Focus on European treaties: SVP warns of loss of sovereignty!

In yesterday's “Arena” broadcast there was a heated discussion about the new contracts with the EU. While the SVP clearly railed against the legal takeover, the representatives of the FDP and the Center saw the new regulations as a step towards greater legal certainty. The SP, on the other hand, particularly praised the secure wage protection that is anchored in the new agreement. The Swiss have been waiting for detailed information on these EU agreements since December 2022, but so far only a handful of parliamentarians have had access to the legal texts. This led to a certain unrest among politicians and the population. Nau.ch reports that the dissatisfaction of the SVP National Councilor Franz Grüter, who harshly criticized the new regulations, was in the room. He emphasized that the EU was dictating the rules for Switzerland and was thus undermining traditional Swiss standards.

However, the SVP's resistance is not shared by everyone. Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter from the center rejected the SVP's concerns and explained that it was a comprehensive legal framework that included five existing and three new agreements. FDP Council of States Matthias Michel emphasized that Switzerland has a special position and that the new contracts are tailor-made. He firmly rejected the accusations of subjugation and viewed the arbitration tribunal as an instrument that would give Switzerland more sovereignty. Contrary to Grüter's concerns, Michel sees the arbitration court as an advantage that ultimately benefits Swiss companies.

Measures to protect wages

Another central point of the discussion was the protection of Swiss wages in the context of the new EU treaties. Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin presented a plan that aims at 14 measures to protect wages as well as before. The social partners have been fine-tuning these measures for months to ensure that the regulations, particularly for EU companies that send employees to Switzerland, do not impose any new burdens on domestic companies. Parmelin made it clear that a measure to protect against dismissal is also being proposed by the Federal Council. However, there are still some points on which there is disagreement.

The newly categorized measures include, among other things, a reduction in the advance notification period for EU service providers from 8 to 4 days and the introduction of a central, automated reporting procedure for EU companies. New requirements for public contracts that require proof of wage and working conditions are also included. The Bernese newspaper emphasizes that the main focus will be on securing service bans as a sanction against wage dumping.

The electricity market and bilateral relations

Another aspect that was addressed in the “Arena” is the controversial electricity agreement. SP Vice President David Roth expressed concerns that it could lead to “pseudo competition” and drive up electricity prices. Green Party President Lisa Mazzone countered this by saying that the agreement was of great importance for the energy transition and grid stability.

In the background are the Bilaterals III, which have picked up speed again after the failed negotiations on the framework agreement. These new contracts not only contain regulations on the free movement of people and food safety, but also specific adjustments for Switzerland in wage protection and migration policy. An expert discussion about the advantages of Bilateral III compared to the aborted negotiations shows that Switzerland demonstrated a good hand in the negotiations and many of its special features were preserved. SME.admin.ch reports that further negotiations will aim to focus on the local cost of living and to achieve a common understanding of the transfer of rights without automatism.

The discussion in the arena clearly showed that Switzerland is facing major challenges. Opinions about the new EU treaties, wage protection and Switzerland's role in the European context vary widely. It is now up to politicians to bridge these differences and find a viable path forward.