These items of business are among the focal points of the summer session
Published: Thursday, May 16th 2024, 09:50
Updated At: Sunday, May 26th 2024, 09:51
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Numerous important dossiers await the National Council and the Council of States in the summer session. An overview in chronological order:
MARRIAGE: The Federal Council wants to strengthen the rights of married minors. In future, a court will be able to declare marriages invalid up to the age of 25 if one of the spouses is married underage. In addition, underage marriages in Switzerland will generally be invalid in future if one of the spouses was domiciled in Switzerland at the time of the marriage. After the Council of States, the National Council is also likely to support the bill in principle. However, the preliminary consultation committee wants to abolish the current rule that underage marriages can be tolerated in individual cases by a judicial consideration of interests.
(Business number 23.057; discussed in the National Council on May 27 and in the Council of States on May 29 if necessary)
AFGHANISTAN: Since summer 2023, Afghan women and girls have been granted asylum in Switzerland on a case-by-case basis and can be joined by their spouses and children. The change in practice by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) is controversial. A strong SVP/FDP minority in the responsible National Council committee would like to reverse it. The National Council will now decide on the matter. It is likely to approve a weakened motion from its preliminary committee. According to this motion, the SEM should supplement the new practice with various accompanying measures and precautions, such as a mandatory security check for spouses joining them. According to the Federal Council, this request has already been fulfilled.
(item numbers 23.4241 and 23.3008; discussed in the National Council on May 27)
SPIES: The Federal Council should consistently expel Russian and other foreign spies from the country. This is what the National Council is demanding in a motion. Now it's the Council of States' turn. Its preliminary committee is recommending that the motion be adopted - on the grounds that espionage activities could pose a risk to Switzerland's diplomatic interests and the individuals targeted. The removal mechanisms for persons who cannot be prosecuted should therefore be expanded - without, however, dispensing with a case-by-case examination. In its statement on the motion, the Federal Council also refers to the case-by-case examination, which it intends to maintain.
(Business number 23.3969; discussed in the Council of States on May 27)
FEDERAL FINANCES: Traditionally, the Federal Council requests supplementary credits for the current state budget from parliament in the summer. This time it is an increase of around CHF 604 million. A major supplementary credit relates to migration expenditure, which is significantly higher than budgeted due to a higher number of applications for asylum and status S. The National Council committee responsible wants to approve the supplementary credit. It is also calling for CHF 15 million to support the 2025 European Women's Football Championship in Switzerland. The Federal Council only wants to spend CHF 4 million on this, citing the Confederation's strained financial situation as one of the reasons. The Council of States Committee wants to reduce the supplementary credit for the operation of the federal asylum centers from CHF 239 million to CHF 167.3 million.
(Business number 24.007; discussed in the National Council on May 28 and in the Council of States on May 30)
SHIPPING: In 2016, the Swiss parliament wanted to introduce the option of taxing Swiss deep-sea shipping companies according to the loading capacity of their ships - instead of taxing them based on the actual profit or loss generated. However, parliament is now likely to bury the introduction of a tonnage tax for ocean-going vessels. Like the Council of States, the responsible committee of the National Council does not want to support the proposal. The main reasons for the increasing skepticism include the unclear financial impact and the critical assessment of the constitutionality of the tax. The left-wing green party had threatened a referendum if the tonnage tax were to clear the parliamentary hurdle.
(item numbers 22.035 and 15.049; discussed in the National Council on May 28)
TAXES: The National Council will discuss the introduction of a financial transaction tax. It has received a corresponding motion from the Green Party. The proponents want to use the new instrument to secure the financing of the AHV. At the beginning of March, the people and cantons voted in favor of the introduction of a 13th AHV pension from 2026. It is unclear how the additional costs of CHF 4 to 5 billion required for this are to be financed. The Federal Council rejects the motion. In its view, it is "not sensible" to decide on the introduction of a financial transaction tax before a comprehensive report on the topic is available. Such a report is currently in progress.
(Business number 24.3106; expected to be discussed in the National Council on May 28)
EDUCATION: The Federal Council has earmarked CHF 29.2 billion for investment in education, research and innovation over the next four years. This corresponds to growth of 1.6 percent, not adjusted for inflation. The government argues that more is not possible due to the federal government's tight financial situation. However, the plans have met with resistance: various stakeholders from science, research and education as well as the cantons are calling for higher growth in education spending. A National Council committee wants the loans to be increased by CHF 145.7 million. It is also calling for higher tuition fees for foreign ETH students. This would generate additional revenue.
(Business number 24.031; discussed in the National Council on May 29)
DIGITALIZATION: The Digisanté programme aims to promote digitalization in the healthcare sector. It comprises over fifty projects aimed at improving the quality of treatment, efficiency and transparency of the healthcare system as well as patient safety. The Federal Council intends to provide a total of CHF 624 million over ten years. The National Council has already approved the loans. The Council of States is likely to do the same. Its responsible committee is unanimously backing Digisanté. The National Council wants to closely monitor digitization and is calling for annual reporting to parliament.
(Business number 23.076; discussed in the Council of States on May 29 and, if necessary, in the National Council on June 3)
ARMY: With the 2024 Armed Forces Dispatch, the Federal Council is submitting key figures on the strategic direction of the armed forces over twelve years to Parliament for the first time. It is requesting billions in credit for this. If the responsible Council of States committee has its way, the army budget will now be increased to one percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030 after all. To this end, the army's payment framework for the period 2025 to 2028 is to be increased by CHF 4 billion to CHF 29.8 billion. In addition, a commitment credit of CHF 660 million is to be added to the 2024 armaments program compared to the Federal Council's proposal. Procurements are to be brought forward by one year.
(Business number 24.025; discussed in the Council of States on June 3)
FEDERAL FINANCES: Immediately after the Armed Forces Dispatch, the Council of States discusses the long-term financing of the planned additional expenditure in the coming years. Its responsible committee is proposing a special fund of CHF 15 billion. This is intended to ensure the modernization of the army and reconstruction in Ukraine. The debt brake is to be circumvented in this way. There is resistance to the proposal from a center-left alliance. In the meantime, several members of parliament from the center party have also made it known that they are sceptical about linking the two issues. The issue is likely to lead to heated discussions.
(Business number 24.3467; discussed in the Council of States on June 3)
ENVIRONMENT: The National Council is set to debate the popular initiative "For a responsible economy within planetary boundaries (environmental responsibility initiative)" by the Young Greens. According to this initiative, Switzerland's environmental impact should be reduced within ten years so that the planetary boundaries are respected. The Federal Council rejects the initiative and does not want a counter-proposal. It refers to the various existing provisions in the Federal Constitution that guarantee sustainable development. The initiative would lead to "serious interference in the freedom of choice of individuals", writes the government. The National Council committee responsible shares the opinion of the Federal Council and sees no need for additional action.
(Business number 24.021; discussed in the National Council on June 3)
CULTURE: The Federal Council is asking Parliament for funding of CHF 987 million for cultural promotion in the years 2025 to 2028. Overall, the cultural sector is to become more sustainable, more digital and more socially just. Cultural diversity is to be strengthened. The government has earmarked CHF 14 million less for implementation than in the consultation draft. Suisseculture, the umbrella organization of cultural workers' organizations, is sharply critical of this. The responsible committee of the Council of States is asking its council to follow the Federal Council's proposals. It only wants to increase the contributions for third-party networks by CHF 2 million.
(Business number 24.027; discussed in the Council of States on June 4)
NAHOST: The National Council is discussing contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). A motion from the ranks of the SVP demands that payments be stopped immediately. The Federal Council intends to pay UNRWA an initial contribution of CHF 10 million this year and later decide on a second tranche, as it recently announced. The money is to be limited to Gaza and will finance the most urgent living needs of the suffering population. As requested by Parliament, the government will consult the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Federal Assembly before definitively releasing the money.
(Business number 24.3194; expected to be discussed in the National Council on June 4)
FEDERAL FINANCES: The Federal Council wants to cut the federal contribution to unemployment insurance (ALV) by a total of CHF 1.25 billion between 2025 and 2029 due to the threat of a billion-dollar deficit in the federal coffers. The responsible National Council committee agrees with this. It is of the opinion that the planned reduction will make a significant contribution to eliminating the structural deficits from 2025. The measure can be implemented without any impact on ALV benefits. Further measures are needed to stabilize the budget in the longer term. A federal working group is currently evaluating possible fields of action.
(Business number 24.016; discussed in the National Council on June 4)
FEDERAL HOUSE: The National Council Office would like to reorganize the cooperation between the federal government, the city and the canton of Bern for the use of public space around the Federal Palace. The current situation, in which the City of Bern can practically decide on its own, is unsatisfactory. The Federal Council should therefore set up a tripartite structure with which the use of public space on the Bundesplatz and the Bundesmeile can be regulated by mutual agreement. The upper chamber is now discussing a corresponding proposal. The Federal Council agrees with the motion and proposes that it be adopted.
(Business number 24.3041; discussed in the National Council on June 5)
NAMES: In future, married couples will once again be able to have a double name. However, there will be no double names for children. This was decided by the National Council in March. It sent a corresponding reform of the naming law back to the responsible committee for revision. The revised draft is based on the concept that each and every engaged couple should be able to choose the name they wish to bear after marriage - whether a double name or not. Married parents should now have to choose the name of their children in every case - double names should be excluded. There are various minority motions, which could indicate an animated debate.
(Business number 17.523; discussed in the National Council on June 6)
ERITREA: Like the Council of States, the responsible National Council committee also wants to return rejected Eritreans to a third country and take a tougher stance on violent asylum seekers. It recommends that the Council adopt the corresponding motions. Rejected Eritrean asylum seekers cannot currently be deported, as the authorities in Eritrea categorically refuse to forcibly return their citizens. As there is still no sign of a migration partnership or readmission agreement being concluded with Eritrea in the future, the pressure must be increased, according to the conservative tenor in parliament. The Federal Council rejects the motions. In its view, a political signal alone will not bring about any improvements.
(item numbers 23.4038, 23.4440 and 23.4447; discussed in the National Council on June 10)
GOODS TRANSPORT: The constitutional goal of shifting freight traffic through the Alps is a long way off. In 2023, 916,000 truck journeys were counted through the Alps. According to the modal shift target, this figure should be 650,000 per year. The National Council is therefore discussing various measures to improve the situation. Its responsible committee has submitted five motions. For example, the Federal Council is to advocate the expansion of the tunnel on the NRLA feeder route from Metz in France to Strasbourg and Basel to a four-meter corridor profile. Another motion calls for more money to ensure that more goods are loaded onto trains instead of lorries over medium distances. A new Alpine transit levy is also under discussion.
(Business numbers 24.036, 24.3389, 24.3390, 24.3391, 24.3392 and 24.3393; discussed in the National Council on June 11)
UKRAINE: According to Benedikt Würth, a member of the St. Gallen Council of States, the acceptance of S protection status is decreasing. It is currently possible for people to waive protection status S, receive return assistance and re-enter the country after a few weeks. They then receive protection status S again. This "tourism" cannot be accepted. Würth and other conservative members of the Council of States are therefore calling on the Federal Council to make adjustments to protection status S in a motion. In the event of a prolonged departure, after receiving return assistance or if the status is obtained improperly, it must be revoked or it must not be possible to regain it. The small chamber is now discussing this. According to the Federal Council, the current regulations provide sufficient protection against abuse.
(item numbers 24.3022 and 24.3378; discussed in the Council of States on June 12)
HEALTHCARE COSTS: The Council of States, as the second chamber, is dealing with a further package to curb healthcare costs. In addition to the measures adopted by the National Council, the responsible Council of States committee wants to further reduce drug prices. Specifically, the federal government should be able to set volume discounts for medicines with a large market volume in future. According to the committee, this measure is aimed at a small number of established products which, however, account for a significant proportion of drug costs. According to estimates by the administration, this could save up to CHF 400 million. It is largely unclear what financial relief the other changes to the Health Insurance Act will bring on balance.
(Business numbers 22.062, 23.3502, 23.3504 and 23.3503; discussed in the Council of States on June 13)
ARMEE: The National Council is once again discussing the future of the Patrouille Suisse aerobatic team. Its responsible committee wants to ensure the continued operation of the F-5 Tiger fighter jets. It is requesting a report from the Federal Council on the possible continued use of these aircraft. Parliament had decided in 2022 - against the wishes of the Federal Council - to postpone the decommissioning of the 25 F-5 Tiger fighter jets. However, the Department of Defense DDPS recently announced that it intends to cease F-5 operations by the end of 2027. Due to the current financial situation, the army is consistently focusing its money on new systems, according to the statement.
(Business number 24.3396; discussed in the National Council on June 13)
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