It said it wanted to wait for parliamentary debates on the issue during the forthcoming winter session before giving the migration pact its final blessing, according to a statement published on Wednesday.
However, the government maintains that the agreement is consistent with Switzerland’s interests, “as it aims to reduce irregular migration by setting benchmarks for orderly migration practices.”
In October, the government announced that it planned to adopt the pact with certain caveats, saying Switzerland’s migration policy already implemented the recommendations. It added that the treaty would be put to parliament for consultation as required by law.
However, the government has rejected proposals to let parliament have the final say on the issue.
The non-binding pact has prompted criticism from various political parties in the Swiss parliament, notably from the right. They argue the treaty would undermine Switzerland’s independence.
In several other countries the pact has drawn opposition from nationalists.
The United States, Hungary, Austria, Israel and Poland have said they won’t back the treaty. An intergovernmental conference in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh on December 10-11 is due to approve the accord.
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Swiss ambassador defends UN migration pact
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Swiss Ambassador Pietro Mona has defended the UN migration pact despite fierce criticism from parliament.
Uri voters clear path for hotel and marina development in central Switzerland
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Voters in canton Uri in central Switzerland have rejected a Green Party initiative aimed at regulating the development of the lakeside Isleten site to prioritise nature conservation and sustainable use.
Lucerne voters back fast-tracked wind energy expansion
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The construction of large wind turbines in the canton of Lucerne should not be delayed by lengthy approval procedures. Voters have spoken out in favor of curtailing municipal autonomy and a cantonal planning approval procedure.
Valais voters reject plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040
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Voters in canton Valais in southern Switzerland have turned down a proposal for the region to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040.
Swiss central banker wants to boost equity to head off risks
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Equity levels at the Swiss National Bank (SNB) are much too low for the risks its large balance sheet poses, according to Martin Schlegel.
Beer sales in Switzerland watered down by bad weather
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The past brewing year fell through in Switzerland, partly due to the bad weather. Beer sales shrank again. For the first time, per capita consumption fell below the 50 liter mark.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
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Swiss president praises UN migration deal
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Berset, who co-presented the plan with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, called it a “great triumph of cooperation in multilateral diplomacy that the negotiations on the pact will bear fruit in these difficult times”. Berset, the Swiss home affairs minister who also holds the rotating Swiss presidency this year, praised the pact on Wednesday as…
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Three recent Swiss diplomatic controversies have raised questions about whether the country can still be considered a moral voice in world affairs.
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