Swiss Review / April 2022 / No.2 27 Notes from the Federal Palace Federal votes The Federal Council determines voting proposals at least four months before the voting date. Everything you need to know about voting proposals (voting pamphlets, committees, recommendations by Parliament and the Federal Council etc.) is available at www.admin.ch/votes or via the Federal Chancellery’s VoteInfo app. The Federal Council decided that there will be three federal proposals submitted to the people on 15 May 2022: ■ ■ Amendment of 1 October 2021 to the Federal Act on Film Production and FilmCulture (FilmAct, FiA) ■ ■ Amendment of 1 October 2021 to the Federal Act on the Transplantation of Organs, Tissues and Cells (Transplantation Act) ■ ■ Federal Decree of 1 October 2021 on the Approval and Implementation of the Exchange of Notes between Switzerland and the EU on the Adoption of the Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 on the European Border and Coast Guard and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1052/2013 and (EU) 2016/1624 (Development of the Schengen Acquis). Popular initiatives The following federal popular initiatives have alreadybeen launched at the time of going to press (deadline for the collection of signatures in brackets): ■ ■ Federal Popular Initiative ‘For a day of reflection before every abortion (Sleep on it Initiative)’ (21.06.2023) ■ ■ Federal Popular Initiative ‘For the protection of babies that are viable outside the womb (Save viable babies Initiative)’ (21.06.2023) ■ ■ Federal Popular Initiative ‘Let the people and the cantons decide on emergency federal legislation!’ (21.06.2023) The list of pending popular initiatives is available in German, French and Italian at www.bk.admin.ch > Politische Rechte > Volksinitiativen > Hängige Volksinitiativen The life verification process is now automated for the majority of OASI/DI pension beneficiaries The Swiss Compensation Office is using automated data sharing to improve the process of checking whether pensioners are still alive. This will simplify the procedure for the majority of Swiss nationals who draw pension benefits under the old-age and survivors’ insurance (OASI) and/or disability insurance (DI) schemes. Until now, all insured persons receivingOASI/DI benefits have had to submit a life certificate to the Swiss Compensation Office (SCO) at regular intervals to ensure uninterrupted payment of their pension. As of this year, this process, which is costly both for the SCO and for insured persons, will be simplified through the introduction of automated data sharing between the various administrative bodies including the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). Specifically, thismeans that Swiss nationals living abroadwho are duly registeredwith the Swiss representation of their country of domicile will no longer be required to provide a life certificate, as this information will instead be transmitted directly from the Register of the Swiss Abroad to the SCO. Swiss nationals who are not registered with diplomatic or consular representations will still be asked to submit life certificates. They must complete the document as usual and have it endorsed to prevent their pension from being stopped. Please note that the new procedure applies from 2022. Anyone who has not yet submitted their life certificate for 2021 is still required to do so. However, the new simplified procedure does not affect the obligation to inform the SCO directly of any changes in personal status such as a change of address or marital status, etc. At the beginning of 2022, the SCO also launched an information campaign which will be phased throughout the year. Every insured personwill be personally informed about this change at the time they were due to have received the relevant life certificate form. (CCO) Notifying the SCO of changes in circumstances: http://revue.link/zascontact Don’t miss the statutory period Approval of the “Marriage for all” proposal (see edition 1/2022 of “Swiss Review”) has retroactive implications with regard to the matrimonial regime for same-sex couples who marry abroad before 1 July 2022 but have no prenuptial agreement. Under Swiss law, joint ownership of property applies retroactively to same-sex couples (instead of separation of property). For this reason, either same-sex spouse can inform the other spouse in writing by 30 June 2022 that their existing matrimonial regime will continue to apply. This declaration must be personally signed. (BJ) Responsible for the FDFA official communications: Consular Directorate Innovation and Partnerships Effingerstrasse 27, 3003 Berne, Switzerland www.eda.admin.ch, email: kdip@eda.admin.ch
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