Businesses need to be freed from bureaucracy

Attractive business practices should not be hampered by inefficient and excessive regulation, the Federal Council wrote on Friday. With the Company Emergency Response Act (UEG), he therefore wants to make electronic government services accessible to companies via the central electronic platform Easygov and a single account.

With the regulatory brakes desired by the majority of parliament, schemes that are particularly costly to businesses should in future be subject to a qualified majority in parliament. This requires a constitutional amendment and eventually a referendum.

criticism in consultation

The instrument used by the FDP was criticized during the consultations. The Bundesrat also waived an application for approval. In order to introduce the regulatory brake, parliamentary law would also have to be amended in addition to the constitution.

The qualified majority of the regulatory brake must be applied if new political regulations affect more than 10,000 companies or if regulatory costs of more than 100 million Swiss francs accumulate over ten years. The idea of ​​the regulatory brake is based on the existing spending brake.

Cantons were sceptical

The instrument had a hard time in the consultations, especially the SVP, FDP, Mitte and the economy thought it was good. It creates transparency on regulatory costs and draws attention to the burden on businesses.

The majority of the cantons, on the other hand, as well as the SP, Greens, GLP and EVP, spoke out against the regulatory brake. Among other things, they criticized the “preferential treatment” of corporate interests in the legislative process. They are also afraid of application problems.

The Federal Council is against the brakes

The Bundesrat also does not think highly of the regulatory brake. There is a risk that a minority will block reforms. And the instrument could not bring less bureaucracy, as hoped, but possibly more bureaucracy. In general, the state government considers the political side effects to be greater “than the manageable expected relief effects for businesses”.

According to the Bundesrat, the desired relief could largely be achieved with the UEG and thus without parliamentary restrictions. The UEG, triggered by an initiative of the SVP, was less controversial in the consultations. The majority of parties, industry and industry associations supported the proposal.

Location Switzerland can become more attractive

The majority believed that unburdening companies could increase the attractiveness of the location. The negative minority raised the question of whether a UEG was necessary and whether the cost-benefit ratio was correct when it was submitted.

With the new law, the Federal Council wants to enshrine principles and audit obligations in law. Regulation should be designed to be efficient and administratively streamlined, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). More transparently reported regulatory costs for companies should provide the Bundesrat and parliament with a better basis for decision-making.

In addition, existing schemes will be tested for their reduction potential by means of area studies. Overall, the federal government should more consistently identify and exploit lighting opportunities in existing and new regulations. (SDA)