Swiss President signs EU treaties, what happens next?

Swiss President Guy Parmelin and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have officially signed the historic Bilateral III treaties in Brussels. The agreements will now have to be approved by the Swiss government and potentially put to a referendum.

Parmelin and Von der Leyen sign Switzerland-EU treaties

Swiss President Guy Parmelin (SVP) has signed the long-awaited Bilateral III treaties with the European Union (EU). The signing took place on Monday, March 2, in Brussels with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen representing the EU. 

After a short signing ceremony, Switzerland finalised “the political project on which the Federal Council and the EU had worked for almost 20 years,” reports Watson. Von der Leyen commented on the significance of the treaties as an “investment in our shared future”. 

Since 2014, the two sides have been renegotiating and combining several agreements to improve economic and social relations. 

What’s included in the Switzerland-EU agreements?

The Bilateral III agreements are madeup of different parts. The first strengthens existing agreements and aims to “ensure the harmonisation of legislation” between Switzerland and the EU, given that Switzerland is not a member state. 

The two sides have negotiated updates to agreements on the economy, transportation, agriculture, free movement of people and Switzerland’s inclusion in research and education programmes in the EU. 

Switzerland has also added new agreements on electricity, health and food safety. Watch a short summary by the federal government below.

Will EU treaties be put to a referendum?

The package of treaties will now be sent to the Swiss parliament for approval. While the agreements have been finalised, the representatives can “determine the voting procedure” and “amend implementing legislation”. 

The main question now is whether the package will be put to a referendum. Either parliament can submit the Bilateral III agreements for a referendum or voters can call one if 50.000 signatures are collected. An optional referendum would require a majority of Swiss voters to approve the deal, while a mandatory referendum would also require a majority of Swiss cantons to approve it.

The Swiss People’s Party (SVP) is calling for a mandatory referendum, arguing that the agreements “trample on Swiss popular rights”. National councillor Magdalena Martullo-Blocher (SVP) described the signing of the treaties as a “dark day for Switzerland”, reports 20 Minuten. 

However, the Federal Council, represented by Guy Parmelin, believes the EU treaties are now “balanced and in the country’s interest”.