Government reveals issues to be voted on in the national referendum in September; Switzerland will follow EU’s border policy; and more news in our roundup on Thursday.
This is what’s at stake in Switzerland’s next referendum
The next round of national referendums is scheduled for September 28th.
On Wednesday, the Federal Council revealed what two issues Swiss citizens will be voting on.
The new Digital Identity Act (e-ID) will be on the ballot, as the group opposing the introduction of electronic identity cards has collected enough signatures to force a referendum.
The second topic that voters will have to weigh in on is the taxation of secondary residences, after the parliament decided in December to abolish the ‘rental value’ tax for this type of properties.
Government sets the date to implement Schengen-related legislative amendments
The Federal Council decided on Wednesday that several amendments concerning the European Union’s Schengen information systems will come into force in Switzerland June 15th, 2025.
These decrees were adapted by Brussels to ensure uniform application of the rules at the external and internal borders. Switzerland is participating in this harmonisation and is therefore required to adapt its national law accordingly.
“The federal decrees adopted by the parliament from 2020 onwards include the legal basis for the new European travel information and authorisation system ETIAS,” the government said. “Before implementing them, the Federal Council wanted to wait for this new instrument to be put into operation.”
The European project has been delayed for years, causing difficulties in coordinating legislative activities in Switzerland.
But after the EU finally decided on March 5th that the first part of the interoperability system would be activated in May 2025, the Federal Council decided to follow suit from June 15th.
In future, ETIAS will be a mandatory requirement for citizens of visa-exempt countries to enter the Schengen area. Another federal decree will ensure that existing and future European information systems are compatible with each other.
READ ALSO: How does being in EFTA and Schengen benefit people in Switzerland?
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Geneva wants a foundation to support its international sector
This foundation is not intended to replace missing funding, particularly from the United States, but to help organisations and NGOs cope with the current crisis, State Council president Nathalie Fontanet told the media on Wednesday.
Co-founded by the canton of Geneva and the Wilsdorf Foundation, it will receive initial funding of 50 million francs, helping financial-ailing UN agencies to weather the crisis.
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Government wants to give billions to boost regional public transport network
The Federal Council is asking the parliament to commit 3.4 billion francs to regional passenger traffic (RPT) — an amount which represents an increase of around 2.3 percent compared with the sum approved by MPs in November 2021.
This money would be earmarked for public transport from 2026 to 2028.
According to the government’s press release, this money — along with contributions from cantons — would “enable investments in more modern trains and electric buses, as well as financing maintenance facilities and passenger information systems.”
Federal and cantonal subsidies also provide funds for more modern trains.
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