Parliament sets these priorities in the first budget round
Published: Monday, Dec 11th 2023, 21:20
Updated At: Monday, Dec 11th 2023, 21:21
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The National Council and Council of States have discussed the federal budget for the coming year and the 2025 to 2027 task and finance plan for the first time. The bill is now in the process of being revised. What has happened so far (in alphabetical order):
ARMY: The Council of States wants to increase the army's budget faster than the Federal Council. Switzerland should spend one percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on national defense as early as 2030 and not just in 2035. The National Council rejects this. This item in the financial plan will continue to be the subject of discussion in the debate.
ASYLUM SOCIAL ASSISTANCE: Parliament wants to cut social assistance for asylum seekers, temporarily admitted persons and refugees by CHF 30 million compared to the Federal Council's proposal. This means that the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) will have just under CHF 1.1 billion available for social assistance in the asylum system next year. Compared to 2023, expenditure may grow less strongly. There is no difference between the Councils on this item.
RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE: The National Council wants to pay CHF 18 million less into the rail infrastructure next year than proposed by the Federal Council. The total contribution amounts to CHF 5.9 billion. In view of the tight financial leeway, the upper chamber opted for this trick in order to comply with the debt brake. The Council of States opted for a credit freeze. The small chamber has not yet decided on the contribution to the railroad infrastructure fund.
BIODIVERSITY: The National Council wants to increase funding for cantonal measures to promote biodiversity and the landscape by CHF 540,000 compared to the Federal Council. The Council of States has not yet decided on this.
FEDERAL ASSEMBLY: The Council of States is budgeting around CHF 2.2 million less than the Federal Council for the Federal Assembly's current expenditure. Expenditure growth compared to 2023 is to be slowed from 4.5 to 2.7 percent. The National Council rejects this. This item will continue to be a topic of discussion in the settlement of differences. The National Council rejects the allocation of an additional million to improve the protection of the parliament building at night and at weekends. The Council of States has not yet decided on this.
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: According to Parliament, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs' (Seco) investment expenditure for loans and participations in developing countries should remain the same as before next year. The Federal Council has earmarked an additional CHF 10 million for increasing the equity capital of the development finance company Sifem. There is no difference between the Councils on this item.
COURTS: Current expenditure for the Federal Supreme Court and the Federal Administrative Court is to increase less than budgeted by the Federal Council compared to 2023. Overall, Parliament wants to spend around CHF 3 million less than the government. There is no difference between the Councils on these items.
EQUALIZATION: Parliament wants to increase the global budget of the Federal Office for Gender Equality (FOGE) by CHF 1.5 million in each of the financial planning years 2025 to 2027 compared to the Federal Council's proposal. Compared to today, this is an increase of around CHF 0.8 million. The additional funds are to be used to finance the campaign to prevent violence. There is no difference between the Councils on this item in the financial plan.
HUMANITARIAN ACTIONS: The National Council wants to cancel the CHF 20 million credit for contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The Council of States has not yet decided on this.
AGRICULTURE: Direct payments for farmers are to remain at the 2023 level of around CHF 2.8 billion. The Federal Council wanted to save just under CHF 55 million here. Sales promotion of Swiss wine and the global budget of the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) - specifically for pest control - are to be reduced to a lesser extent. Parliament wants to spend the same amount of money as in the current year on the preservation of Swiss animal breeds and on herd protection measures. These measures will result in additional expenditure of around CHF 15 million compared to the Federal Council's proposal. There is no difference between the Councils on these items. According to the Council of States, contributions to sugar beet producers are to be reduced to a lesser extent. The National Council wants to keep payments at the same level as today. This item will continue to be the subject of discussion in the debate on the differences.
MINORITY PROTECTION: Parliament wants to provide CHF 2.5 million more for the protection of religious minorities in the coming year than was originally planned in the Federal Council's budget. The money is to benefit Jewish and Muslim communities. There is no difference between the Councils on this item.
NATIONAL PARK: The National Council wants to increase funding for the preservation and promotion of the Swiss National Park by CHF 83,000 compared to the Federal Council's proposal. The Council of States has not yet decided on this.
REGIONAL PASSENGER TRANSPORT: Parliament wants to increase the federal funding for regional passenger transport by CHF 55 million compared to today - and not cut it by CHF 5 million, as proposed by the Federal Council. In future, transport companies will have around CHF 1.134 billion at their disposal for the planned uncovered costs. There is no difference between the Councils on this item.
REGIONAL POLICY: The National Council wants to cancel the entire contribution of CHF 25 million to the Regional Development Fund. The Council of States rejects this. This item will be the subject of further discussion in the debate on the differences.
TAXATION: The National Council wants to create additional positions for VAT controls for CHF 2.1 million and budget an increase in VAT revenue of CHF 7.5 million as a result of these additional personnel resources. The Council of States has not yet decided on this.
ENVIRONMENT: The National Council wants to reduce the global budget of the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) by CHF 1.8 million compared to the Federal Council's proposal. This involves a reduction in personnel costs. Compared to today, this means a 3.3 percent reduction in functional expenditure. The Council of States has not yet decided on this.
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The Council of States will begin the debate on the differences next Thursday.
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