Economy

Bilateral Relations between Switzerland and the EU
The “Bilateral III” treaty package is intended to stabilize and further develop relations between Switzerland and the EU. In June 2025, the Federal Council opened the consultation on the planned treaty package. This runs until the end of October 2025, after which the message to Parliament should follow in early 2026. SwissHoldings supports the Federal Council’s efforts to sustainably secure access to the EU internal market, but emphasizes the necessity of preserving Switzerland’s economic policy sovereignty and carefully examining integration policy questions.
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Free Trade Agreement
Free trade agreements (FTAs) are a key instrument for export-oriented Switzerland to diversify its trade relations. The network of these agreements is constantly being developed. Particularly noteworthy are the recently concluded comprehensive EFTA-India Agreement, which entered into force on October 1, 2025, and the EFTA-MERCOSUR Agreement, which was signed on September 16, 2025. SwissHoldings supports the consistent expansion and modernization of this network of agreements.
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Investment Controls
The discussion on introducing investment controls in Switzerland is at a crucial stage. After the National Council called for comprehensive regulations in September 2024, the Council of States successfully struck down this expansion in the fall session of 2025. The National Council's EATC discussed the bill at its meeting on October 13–14 and decided to largely follow the position of the Council of States. The bill will be discussed again in the National Council during the winter session. The Federal Council considers the existing legal framework to be sufficient. SwissHoldings supports this position. However, the question of whether Switzerland should introduce investment screening cannot be assessed in isolation from international developments.
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Investment Protection Agreements
Switzerland has one of the world’s largest networks of bilateral investment protection agreements (IPAs). Since a practice change by the Federal Council, IPAs are newly subject to the optional referendum. Investment protection agreements create a reliable environment that enables Swiss companies to invest safely and sustainably abroad. SwissHoldings welcomes efforts worldwide to continuously develop and improve the IPA instrument. The IPA with Saudi Arabia expired on August 8, 2025. Negotiations for a new agreement are already well advanced.
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Corporate Responsibility
The EU is currently adapting its sustainability regulations as part of the so-called omnibus process. In September 2025, the Federal Council decided to formulate a counterproposal the new Responsible Business Initiative. This counterproposal shall be coordinated internationally. SwissHoldings welcomes this approach in principle: sustainability should be strengthened – but with internationally coordinated, practical solutions rather than a unilateral approach.
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Collective Legal Protection
The Council of States clearly rejected the class action bill (21.082) in the 2025 fall session, following the lead of the National Council. The bill is therefore off the table. Instead, according to postulate 25.3954, it should be examined whether conciliation and ombudsman procedures could serve as alternatives. SwissHoldings welcomes the rejection of the bill and supports the pragmatic approach of the postulate.
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IFRS Standardization
The IFRS Foundation develops global accounting standards and oversees the IASB, which creates financial standards, as well as the ISSB, which focuses on sustainability standards. Currently, the ISSB’s focus is on biodiversity and human rights. Additionally, the Board conducted a consultation on greenhouse gas emissions in 2025. The IASB is currently reviewing IFRS 16 on leases. SwissHoldings actively participates in these developments with detailed position statements.
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Initial Situation of Switzerland as a Financial Location
In response to the CS crisis, the Federal Council presented a package of measures in June 2025 to strengthen the stability of Switzerland as a financial location. The consultation on the package to amend the Capital Adequacy Ordinance concluded at the end of September. At the same time, the federal government opened a second consultation, which includes the proposal to fully back foreign subsidiaries of systemically important banks with hard capital. From SwissHoldings' perspective, regulation is needed that strengthens stability without tightening financing conditions for companies.
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Contact

Denise Anne Laufer

Head Economics, Member of the Executive Committee

 

+41 31 356 68 62
denise.laufer@swissholdings.ch

Dustin Rosenfeld

Economic Policy Manager

 

+41 31 351 90 72
dustin.rosenfeld@swissholdings.ch

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