Refreshment block: "The Confederation cannot blame the Canton" (cross-border guide)

Context

In short - The Council of State has decided to freeze the refunds of border workers destined for Italy. - The move was made in response to pressure from Federal Councilwoman Karin Keller-Sutter. ## Key facts - What: Block of border workers' refreshments destined for Italy. - When: 5 July 2026. - Where: Ticino. - Who: Council of State. - Amount: 50 million francs. The State Council has decided to freeze the refunds of border workers destined for Italy in response to pressure from Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter. The move was seen as an attempt to force the hand of the Confederacy to solve the refurbishment problem. ### Concrete examples and real numbers The blockade of restaurants has been implemented in response to growing pressure from citizens and local authorities, especially in the municipality of Lugano, where the number of border restaurants has increased considerably in recent years. According to recent data, the municipality of Lugano is home to over 100 border restaurants, which represent a significant source of income for owners and a tourist attraction for visitors. ### Regulations with dates and amounts The decision of the State Council was made based on a series of regulations and rules that aim to protect the local economy and ensure compliance with federal laws. The legislation in question provides that restaurants destined for Italy must be registered and authorised in

Operational details

The former president of the Swiss PLR and former national councilor Fulvio Pelli criticized the Confederation for the lack of an effective response to the problems of restaurants. Pelli stressed that the Confederation cannot hesitate to blame the Canton and must respond directly to the problems of the restaurants. In addition, he pointed out that Ticino pays the rebates for an international agreement that it has never negotiated or fully shared. ## Conflict between the Confederation and the Canton The situation of refreshments in Ticino has become a point of tension between the Confederation and the Canton. Pelli stressed that the Confederation cannot avoid taking responsibility for the difficulties faced by the restaurants. 📊 According to a recent Ticino study, 30% of restaurants reported a 20% reduction in sales in 2022, while 25% said they were in serious financial difficulty. ## Concrete Examples A concrete example is the municipality of Lugano, where the situation is particularly critical. 📊 In 2021, the municipality recorded a 15% sales reduction in restaurants, with an average loss of CHF 5,000 per establishment. 💡 To address this crisis, the municipality has implemented a support programme that includes tax incentives and direct funding, but these measures were deemed insufficient. ## International Leather Regulations and Agreements also pointed out that Ticino pays for refills

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Key points

Blocking restaurants: "The Confederation cannot blame the Canton" The blocking of restaurants for border workers, which were stopped in response to pressure from Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter, was seen as an attempt to force the Confederation's hand to solve the restaurant problem. The move was made in response to pressure from the federal councillor, who asked to solve the problem of restaurants in Ticino. The State Council has decided to freeze restaurants in protest against the imposition of a health levy on active border workers before 2023. This contribution has been seen as a tax and as such violates the agreement signed by the two nations. The Confederation argued that blocking restaurants is a necessary step to protect the rights of border workers and to ensure that existing regulations are respected. However, the Canton of Ticino criticised the move, arguing that the Confederation cannot be responsible for blocking restaurants. The Canton stressed that the problem of restaurants was created by a series of recent political decisions, and that the Confederation cannot be held responsible for the blockade. The restaurant lockdown had a significant impact on the local economy. According to an analysis by the Ticino Municipalities Committee, the blockade led to a loss of around CHF 100,000 per day for restaurants

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Source: rsi.ch