The other parliamentary chamber, the Senate, is not sitting.
Among the main issues tabled are a proposal to give voters a greater say in international treaties.
A committee by conservative isolationist politicians collected enough signatures to force a nationwide vote on the issue. The initiative by the Campaign for an Independent and Neutral Switzerland was handed in 18 months ago.
The government has come out against the proposal, but put forward a compromise.
Parliament is also due to begin discussions on a number of revised double taxation agreements as well as controversial tax breaks for companies.
Centre-left parties have called for the result of a nationwide ballot in 2008 to be declared null and void after it emerged that the reform will lead to a multi-billion franc shortfall in revenue over several years.
They argue the government misled voters by forecasting an annual shortfall of just SFr50 million ($55 million).
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Isolationists seek more say on treaties
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A conservative pressure group, Campaign for an Independent and Neutral Switzerland (Cins), handed in the necessary signatures to the Federal Chancellery on Tuesday. The group said the initiative was aimed at boosting democratic rights. “Switzerland’s independence has to be strengthened because the government has been caving in to pressure and threats by other states and…
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The finance ministry said the request to amend double taxation accords, already approved by parliament in June 2010, is in line with internationally applicable standards. It would no longer be necessary to provide the name and address of a taxpayer in order to process administrative assistance requested from Switzerland. However, so-called fishing expeditions are excluded…
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The reform, which was endorsed by parliament last year, scraped just over 50 per cent of the vote. It had been contested by centre-left parties and trade unions. Merz said he was relieved that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) would now benefit from the package of measures aimed at reducing the financial and administrative burden.…
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In an interview with swissinfo.ch, Pascal Saint-Amans, head of the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information of Tax Purposes, praised Finance Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf for her recent moves to relax conditions for the release of data on foreign bank account holders. “The Swiss should not make a minor point of serious questions of…
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Switzerland has a turbulent relationship with the European Union. While many Swiss would be happy to join the EU, there are even more who are not interested as nationwide votes have shown in the past. (Keystone)
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