Mar, Dic 19th 2023
In the current winter session, the National Council and the Council of States are discussing the federal budget for the coming year and the task and finance plan for 2025 to 2027.
The bill is currently in the process of being amended. What has happened so far (in alphabetical order):
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.
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 will increase less sharply.
The National Council wants to pay 36 million francs less into the rail infrastructure fund 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, for its part, wants to pay in CHF 38 million less for the same reason. This item will continue to be the subject of discussion in the debate on the differences.
Parliament rejects the allocation of an additional CHF 1 million to improve the protection of the parliament building at night and at weekends. The global budget of the Parliamentary Services is reduced accordingly compared to the Federal Council’s proposal.
The investment expenditure of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) for loans and investments in developing countries will remain the same next year as before. The Federal Council envisaged an additional CHF 10 million to increase the equity capital of the development finance company Sifem, which was rejected by Parliament.
Current expenditure for the Federal Supreme Court and the Federal Administrative Court will increase less than budgeted by the Federal Council in 2023. In total, Parliament is spending around CHF 3 million less than the government.
Parliament is increasing 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.
HUMANITARIAN ACTIONS: The National Council wants to cancel the credit of CHF 20 million for contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The Council of States wants to halve the credit to CHF 10 million. This item will continue to be the subject of discussion in the debate on the differences.
AGRICULTURE: Direct payments for farmers will 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 – as well as contributions to sugar beet producers will be reduced to a lesser extent. The same amount of money as in the current year will be spent on the preservation of Swiss animal breeds and on herd protection measures. These measures will result in additional expenditure of around CHF 17 million compared to the Federal Council’s proposal.
PROTECTION OF MINORITIES: Parliament is providing 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 will benefit Jewish and Muslim communities.
REGIONAL PASSENGER TRANSPORT: Parliament is increasing the federal funding for regional passenger transport by CHF 50 million compared to today. The Federal Council proposed a reduction of CHF 5 million. In future, transport companies will have around CHF 1.134 billion at their disposal for the planned uncovered costs.
REGIONAL POLICY: The National Council wants to cancel the entire contribution of CHF 25 million to the Regional Development Fund. The Council of States proposes halving the contribution. This item will continue to be the subject of discussion in the debate on the differences.
TAXES: Parliament is creating additional positions for VAT controls at a cost of CHF 2.1 million and is budgeting an increase in VAT revenue of CHF 7.5 million as a result of these additional personnel resources.
ENVIRONMENT: Parliament cuts 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 National Council will discuss the bill again on Wednesday.
©Keystone/SDA
Spanish 
English 
German 
French 
Arabic