Bilateral III, Bern reiterates its position: "Optional referendum" (cross-border guide)

Context

Bilateral III, Bern reiterates its position: "Optional referendum"

The Swiss Federal Council reiterated its position on Bilateral III, in favour of an optional referendum. The decision was taken in response to the parliamentary initiative of the Commission of the Political Institutions of the States, which would have required a double majority referendum to approve or reject the agreements.

Switzerland is one of the most stable and secure countries in the world, with an economy strongly linked to Europe. Cross-border work is a key sector for the Ticino economy, with many people working in Lugano, Bellinzona or Locarno, but residing in Switzerland or abroad. Bilateral Agreements III were concluded between Switzerland and the European Union to simplify trade relations and ensure the free movement of people and goods.

The optional referendum was chosen to avoid tying the fate of the agreements to the fate of a double majority referendum. This means that if the agreements are approved by the Federal Council and Parliament, there will be no need for a referendum to ratify them. Conversely, if the agreements are rejected by the Federal Council or Parliament, a referendum will not be necessary to reject the agreements.

The Federal Council has decided to reiterate its position on Bilateral III after the parliamentary initiative of the Commission of the Political Institutions of the

Operational details

The Federal Council reiterated its position on the procedure for the package of bilateral agreements with Switzerland, stressing that the draft IPC-S would deviate from that enshrined in the Constitution and risk creating a precedent for future international treaties. The procedure envisaged by the draft CIP-S provides that the referendum is optional, which means that the voters of the Canton of Ticino could choose not to participate in the vote. This has drawn criticism from some politicians and citizens, who believe that the referendum should be mandatory to ensure democratic participation and representation of the Canton's interests. The Federal Council underlined that the package of agreements is already in accordance with the Constitution and that the procedure envisaged by the draft CIP-S would deviate from that enshrined in the Constitution. In particular, the Federal Council recalled Article 140 of the Constitution, which states that the referendum must be mandatory for international treaties involving Switzerland. The package of bilateral agreements has been negotiated between Switzerland and the federal government and provides for the creation of a single market between the two countries. The Treaty also provides for the free movement of persons and goods, as well as cooperation in the field of justice and security. The Federal Council stressed that the optional referendum could create Definition of the date and time for the optional referendum. Definition of the method of carrying out the optional referendum. Definition of how votes are counted and results proclaimed. Here are some comparisons between practical scenarios: Practical scenarios: the optional referendum could be used as a tool to block the treaty and compromise the sovereignty of the Canton of Ticino. * Practical scenarios: the optional referendum could be used as a tool to ensure democratic participation and representation of the interests of the Canton of Ticino. In conclusion, the Federal Council reiterated its position on the procedure for the package of bilateral agreements with Switzerland, stressing that the draft IPC-S would deviate from that enshrined in the Constitution and risk creating a precedent for future international treaties.

Key points

Bilateral Agreements III, Bern reiterates its position: "Optional referendum" If you’re interested in how the Bilateral Agreements III could impact your life as a cross-border commuter, it’s important to learn about the details of these agreements. The Federal Council reiterated its position and rejected the parliamentary initiative of the Committee on Political Institutions of the States. On June 15, the Federal Council issued a communication reiterating its position on the optional referendum on the Bilateral Agreements III. The Committee on Political Institutions of the States had submitted a request for approval of a referendum, which would have been put to a vote by citizens. However, the Federal Council decided not to approve this request, considering that the issue of the Bilateral Agreements III had already been addressed in 2013 with the ratification of the agreements. The Bilateral Agreement III was signed on October 5, 2013, and ratified by the Swiss people on June 5, 2016. This agreement introduced significant changes to the tax and social security provisions for Swiss citizens residing in Italy and for Italians residing in Switzerland. Among the main changes were the lifting of the ban on Swiss citizens working in Italy and the introduction of a unified pension system for Swiss and Italian citizens. However, recent developments regarding Bilateral Agreement III have raised some concerns. Check if you are a Swiss citizen residing in Italy or an Italian citizen residing in Switzerland. Check if you are a border worker working in Switzerland and residing in Italy. Check if you have benefited from the abolition of the work ban and the introduction of a unified pension scheme. Check if you have received information about Bilateral III from your employer or from the municipal administration. Here are some comparisons between practical scenarios that can help you better understand how Bilateral IIIs might affect your life as a frontier: In conclusion, Bilateral IIIs can have a significant impact on your life as a frontier. It is important to inform yourself about the details of these agreements and to check whether you have benefited from the abolition of the work ban and the introduction of a unified pension scheme.