# Bilateral III: Upper Chamber Sets Initial Framework **Category:** Regulation | **Source:** Parlament.ch / SRF / EDA | **Published:** 2026-10-04 | **Updated:** 2026-10-05 **Tags:** Bilaterale III, Schweiz, EU, Ständerat, Nationalrat, Landverkehrsabkommen, Luftverkehrsabkommen, Kohäsionsbeitrag, Logistik, Transport, Logistik News, Transport News, Fracht News, Speditions News, Supply Chain News, Zoll News, Frachtportal News, Schienentransport > The States Council is relying on a popular and cantonal majority for Bilateral III. Land and air transport are part of the package, but nothing has been decided yet. --- The Council of States has conducted the first major round on Bilateral III and set important guidelines. The question of how the public should vote later was particularly contentious. With 23 to 17 votes and three abstentions, the smaller chamber decided to subject the stabilization portion to a mandatory referendum. This would require both a majority of voters and a majority of cantons. Important: This is not yet a final decision. Next, it is the National Council's turn. It is to deliberate on the dossier in the winter session, in December 2026. If it does not vote in agreement, differences arise between the two chambers. These must be resolved first. For freight forwarders and shippers, the land and air transport agreements are of particular interest. These existing agreements are to be updated and supplemented with new rules for the adoption of EU law. In land transport, it concerns access to the rail and road markets, among other things. In air transport, it concerns market access, safety, and cooperation with the EU. Financially, a regular Swiss contribution of 350 million francs per year is foreseen for the years 2030 to 2036. Of this, 308 million francs are allocated to cohesion, that is, the reduction of economic differences in Europe, and 42 million francs for migration. Additionally, there is a transition obligation for the end of 2024 to the end of 2029. The exact sum depends on when the package enters into force. A popular vote is likely. June 2027 to March 2028 are mentioned as a possible timeframe. Nothing is fixed yet. The electricity agreement will also continue to be treated separately in parliament. Anyone planning with a fixed voting date today is acting prematurely. --- For dispatchers, nothing changes for now. Current regulations in land and air transport remain in effect until the entire political process is completed and new regulations actually come into force. Shippers and freight forwarders should nevertheless monitor which changes are decided regarding market access, permits, and technical regulations. Particularly in cross-border rail, truck, and air transport, new EU regulations can later affect processes and costs. Contracts or systems do not need to be adjusted today because of Bilateral III. In short: The Council of States has set an important direction, but Bilateral III has not yet been decided and is not yet in force. --- The Council of States approved the EU treaty package with 29 to 15 votes in favor. The result of 23 to 17 with three abstentions concerns the mandatory referendum requiring both popular and cantonal majority. The National Council must still decide on the referendum question. The National Council is scheduled to deliberate on the dossier during the winter session of 2026. A definitive date for the popular vote has not yet been set. The stabilization package includes, among other things, land and air transport. For 2030 to 2036, 350 million Swiss francs are budgeted annually. Of this amount, 308 million Swiss francs are allocated to cohesion and 42 million Swiss francs to migration. The agreements are not yet in force. ## Related Entities ### Countries - [Austria](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/at) - [Belgium](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/be) - [Bulgaria](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/bg) - [Croatia](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/hr) - [Cyprus](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/cy) - [Czechia](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/cz) - [Denmark](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/dk) - [Estonia](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/ee) - [Finland](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/fi) - [France](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/fr) - [Germany](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/de) - [Greece](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/gr) - [Hungary](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/hu) - [Ireland](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/ie) - [Italy](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/it) - [Latvia](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/lv) - [Lithuania](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/lt) - [Luxembourg](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/lu) - [Malta](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/mt) - [Netherlands](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/nl) - [Poland](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/pl) - [Portugal](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/pt) - [Romania](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/ro) - [Slovakia](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/sk) - [Slovenia](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/si) - [Spain](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/es) - [Sweden](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/se) - [Switzerland](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/ch) ### Glossary - [Freight forwarder](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/freight-forwarder) - [Supply Chain](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/supply-chain) - [transport market access](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/transport-market-access) - [Bilateral Agreements](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/bilateral-agreements) --- *Canonical URL: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/bilaterale-iii-staenderat-setzt-erste-leitplanken-20261001162435](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/bilaterale-iii-staenderat-setzt-erste-leitplanken-20261001162435)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/bilaterale-iii-staenderat-setzt-erste-leitplanken-20261001162435](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/bilaterale-iii-staenderat-setzt-erste-leitplanken-20261001162435)*