This is where the Federal Council sees the greatest savings potential
Published: Friday, Sep 20th 2024, 16:42
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The Federal Council is planning relief measures of around CHF 4.6 billion in its budget for 2030. The government envisages a total of sixty measures. An overview of the most important ones by area of responsibility:
SOCIAL WELFARE: At CHF 1,745 million, the Federal Council sees the greatest savings potential in social welfare. Only the measure "Waiver of federal contributions for supplementary family childcare" is expected to reduce the federal budget by CHF 896 million. A further CHF 500 million could be saved by reducing the integration lump sum for refugees to four years. An unbundling of the federal contribution to the AHV should enable further savings of CHF 289 million.
TRANSPORT: The savings potential for the Federal Council in this area is CHF 507 million. The two largest items include cuts to the rail infrastructure fund (CHF 200 million) and the National Roads and Agglomeration Transport Fund (CHF 96 million). Other proposed measures would affect regional passenger transport (CHF 62 million) and the promotion of alternative drive systems for buses and ships (CHF 46 million).
EDUCATION AND RESEARCH: In total, the Federal Council is proposing cuts of CHF 496 million in this area. The main items are a ten percent reduction in the federal contribution to the Swiss National Science Foundation (CHF 145 million) and the measure "Strengthening user funding for cantonal universities" (CHF 120 million).
ECONOMY: Relief measures amounting to 468 million francs come together under this heading. By prioritizing subsidies for climate policy, savings of CHF 400 million are possible. This is by far the largest amount in this area.
FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION: Under the heading "Miscellaneous", the Federal Council summarizes measures in the Federal Administration totalling CHF 362 million. Of this, 305 million francs is accounted for by "measures in our own area". This mainly refers to measures relating to federal personnel.
FINANCE AND TAXATION: According to the Federal Council, relief of CHF 360 million is possible in the area of "Finance and Taxation". Higher taxation of second and third pillar capital withdrawals would generate additional revenue of CHF 220 million. The measure "Reduction of the socio-demographic equalization of burdens" would result in relief of CHF 140 million.
RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION: In terms of foreign policy, the national government is proposing cuts of CHF 334 million. In the area of international cooperation, CHF 313 million is to be frozen until 2030. A further CHF 19 million could be saved by waiving the contribution to the SRG's international offering.
AGRICULTURE AND FOOD: The Federal Council believes that CHF 161 million could be saved in this area. An increase in the auctioning of import quotas would lead to a reduction of CHF 80 million. The measure "Reduction of landscape quality contributions to 50 percent" would mean reduced expenditure of CHF 65 million.
FURTHER: The Federal Council envisages further reductions totaling CHF 209 million in the areas of "Environment and Spatial Planning" (CHF 72 million), "Culture and Leisure" (CHF 60 million), "Health" (CHF 50 million), "Security" (CHF 25 million) and "Institutional and Financial Requirements" (CHF 2 million).
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