Swiss Cabinet Urges Parliament to Block Anti-EU Deal Referendum Initiative
Switzerland's Federal Council has advised parliament to reject a referendum initiative that would complicate approval of the new EU-Swiss agreement.
The Swiss Federal Council has formally recommended that parliament reject a popular initiative that seeks to block the newly agreed EU-Swiss partnership deal. The government argues that the proposal, known as the Kompass-Initiative, would undermine legal clarity and destabilise the country's democratic institutions.
The initiative, backed by the billionaire founders of asset manager Partners Group, aims to protect Swiss sovereignty by making it harder for international treaties to be ratified. Under its terms, such agreements would require not just a national majority of voters, but also a majority of Switzerland's 26 cantons.
The Federal Council warned that this would create serious legal uncertainty. Justice Minister Beat Jans told reporters that the initiative would bring confusion rather than clarity, and that its provisions on adopting international law are so vague they would invite legal disputes.
The initiative also opposes the principle of "dynamic alignment" in the EU-Swiss deal, under which Switzerland would adapt its legislation to changes in EU law, subject to its own constitutional safeguards.
The EU-Swiss agreement, finalised in December 2024, is currently under debate in the Swiss parliament. If approved, it is expected to face a nationwide referendum no earlier than 2027. The Kompass-Initiative has already gathered enough signatures to trigger its own referendum, though no date has been set.