During the opening of the autumn session of the Swiss parliament on September 14th, President Guy Parmelin presented four goals the government has set for the country for next year.
As it does annually in the fall, the Federal Council has set “concrete and quantifiable objectives” for 2027 as well.
The four main focus areas will be:
Switzerland secures its long-term prosperity and seizes the opportunities offered by the digital age
Reaching this goal will entail a multi-faceted approach, impacting economy as well as relations with the EU.
In terms of economy, the strategy sets three priorities: “reducing administrative burdens, facilitating access to international markets for SMEs, and strengthening the economic vitality of the regions.”
Also, its goal is “to develop rail, road, and urban transport networks in a targeted and coordinated manner in order to meet the mobility needs of the population and the economy.”
As far as relations with the EU are concerned, the Federal Council has a long line of objectives it wants to reach, including Switzerland’s participation in European research and innovations projects.
Furthermore, the Federal Council will focus on solidifying other agreements between Switzerland and the EU – particularly in the areas of land transport and electricity.
Switzerland fosters national and intergenerational cohesion
This particular objective focuses on a multitude of areas.
One of them is employment: “In 2027, the Federal Council will adopt a national strategy on continuing education, vocational training, and catch-up training to facilitate entry or re-entry into the workforce. This strategy will outline how the Confederation, the cantons, and organisations from the world of work can create a framework enabling adults to pursue training or continuing education, thereby making the most of available potential to meet Switzerland’s need for skilled labour.”
In other areas, the government will study the results of the analysis on equal pay and, on that basis, decide about a potential revision of the Gender Equality Act.
Concerning the cost of health insurance, the Federal Council will examine the feasibility of adjustments to the deductible. “The aim will be to reduce healthcare costs while fostering individual responsibility among the insured” – in other words, discouraging people from seeking emergency care for minor problems.
Switzerland ensures security, works for peace, and acts consistently and reliably on the international stage
That’s a tall order, considering Switzerland’s policy of non-involvement in global conflicts.
But if we unpack this goal word by word, they don’t seem unattainable.
Concretely, the government wants o participate in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) in order to strengthen cooperation with the European Union, and thus enable Switzerland to respond in a concerted manner to events such as natural disasters, technical threats (for instance, power shortages), and societal risks like pandemics, armed conflict and terrorism.
Also, the government will also launch a consultation in 2027 on revising the legal framework for the protection of critical infrastructure.
Last but certainly not least, “The Federal Council will adopt a national strategy on domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence. The aim is to effectively protect individuals against violence, further strengthen coordination among stakeholders, and better harmonise the various measures.”
Furthermore, the Federal Council will adopt an updated counter-terrorism strategy. It will also launch a consultation on a federal law to combat organised crime, “which will include various legislative amendments designed to improve the framework for tackling this type of crime.”
Switzerland protects the climate and safeguards natural resources
Under this undoubtedly challenging category, the government lists priorities like making agriculture more sustainable; better land management; protecting the environment; and optimised energy efficiency strategy.
And in terms of climate change, “In 2027, the Federal Council will adopt the strategy called ‘Water Management – Droughts, Heavy Precipitation, Water Supply Quality, and Protection of Aquatic Habitats.’ This strategy will consider relevant sectoral policies and, where appropriate, highlight the legal adjustments required to achieve these objectives.”
You can see the detailed plan here.
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