The defeat of the “Neutrality” initiative in the Sept. 27 Swiss referendum is mostly due to the mass brainwashing accomplished by the Swiss financial and corporate elite, through its mass media and political agents, of a “decoupling” from Switzerland’s European partners. In particular, a failure of the ongoing third phase of Swiss economic integration with the EU, in case of a success of the Neutrality initiative, was the mainstream narrative.

As the ongoing debate in the Swiss Council of States (Ständerat) shows, the treaty upgrade currently discussed (Bilaterale III), is a major step towards a complete loss of sovereignty of the Swiss nation, deceitfully presented as a quid pro quo. In reality, it is worse than a colonial takeover, as Ständerat member Beat Rieder, from the Valais Center Party, explained in a memorable speech in the Sept. 28 session.

Rieder pointed to the “dynamic legal alignment” (dynamische Rechtsübernahme) clause of the Treaty, which has been already signed by the Swiss government and must now be approved by the Parliament. De facto, the clause binds Switzerland to adopt whatever future new law, guideline or decision comes from Brussels, without a real power to reject it. Formally, Bern is involved in “co-shaping” the law, and the Swiss government or Parliament can reject it, however opening a procedure which gives Brussels and the European Court the upper hand in activating the so-called “guillotine clause,” i.e. punishing Switzerland by canceling the treaty altogether, in all areas covered by the treaty and not only in the area which concerns the disputed matter. As an alternative, the EU can adopt “compensatory measures” such as blocking access to EU markets in the concerned area. Recent cases with Norway and Switzerland show that the Guillotine and the Compensatory Measures work as a “nuclear deterrent,” defusing any attempt to escape EU law.

Beat Rieder correctly argued that characterizing this as “Colonial Treaty” is not enough. Not even the British Empire demanded that its colonies automatically adopt every future British law. His conclusion: “If you give up sovereignty to achieve a little temporary prosperity, you will first lose your sovereignty and then your prosperity as well.”