Switzerland’s path toward modernising its bilateral accords with the European Union cleared an important domestic hurdle on 5 December as the Federal Council published the results of a four-month consultation. Of 318 submissions—from cantons, parties, business associations and NGOs— a “clear majority” supported the Stabilisation and Further Development Package, also dubbed Bilaterals III.
The package bundles sectoral agreements on electricity trading, food safety, health, state aid and, critically for global mobility, dynamic alignment to EU freedom-of-movement rules. Respondents nonetheless requested tighter guarantees on wage protection and greater parliamentary oversight of future EU law updates. The government said it would incorporate several clarifications before sending the dossier to Parliament in March 2026.
![Consultation Shows Strong Public Backing for ‘Bilaterals III’ Swiss-EU Package]()
For employers, the signal is encouraging: dynamic alignment offers more legal certainty for intra-EU assignments and recognition of professional qualifications, while the electricity accord promises grid-stability vital to energy-intensive industries. However, unions have vowed to scrutinise wage-dumping safeguards, meaning implementation timelines could still shift.
If Parliament approves the package, a facultative referendum could follow in 2027. Mobility practitioners should therefore map potential scenarios: a smooth ratification could simplify cross-border postings, whereas a referendum defeat might revive talk of a Swiss “Brexit-light” and force contingency planning.
The consultation outcome also strengthens Bern’s hand in ongoing talks about Switzerland’s association to EU research and digital-migration systems such as the Entry/Exit System (EES) and ETIAS—both of which will affect corporate travel compliance.
The package bundles sectoral agreements on electricity trading, food safety, health, state aid and, critically for global mobility, dynamic alignment to EU freedom-of-movement rules. Respondents nonetheless requested tighter guarantees on wage protection and greater parliamentary oversight of future EU law updates. The government said it would incorporate several clarifications before sending the dossier to Parliament in March 2026.
For employers, the signal is encouraging: dynamic alignment offers more legal certainty for intra-EU assignments and recognition of professional qualifications, while the electricity accord promises grid-stability vital to energy-intensive industries. However, unions have vowed to scrutinise wage-dumping safeguards, meaning implementation timelines could still shift.
If Parliament approves the package, a facultative referendum could follow in 2027. Mobility practitioners should therefore map potential scenarios: a smooth ratification could simplify cross-border postings, whereas a referendum defeat might revive talk of a Swiss “Brexit-light” and force contingency planning.
The consultation outcome also strengthens Bern’s hand in ongoing talks about Switzerland’s association to EU research and digital-migration systems such as the Entry/Exit System (EES) and ETIAS—both of which will affect corporate travel compliance.
