Switzerland and the EU currently have an agreement that grants citizens freedom to live and work across Switzerland and the bloc. As part of a new agreement, Switzerland wanted a safeguard clause that would allow Switzerland to unilaterally impose permit quotas for a limited time. On 2 October 2024, the EU said it rejected the […]
Federal Council aims for winter Olympics in 2038 – seventh time lucky?
The last time the winter Olympics were in Switzerland was 1948 when they took place in St. Moritz. Since then Switzerland has not been a host despite being in the running six times. This week, Switzerland’s sports minister Viola Amherd said she would welcome the Winter Olympics in 2038, reported RTS. On Friday, the Federal […]
Swiss upper house rejects plan to extend family reunification rules
Currently, under the agreement Switzerland has with the EU/EFTA, EU/EFTA citizens with a legal right to reside in Switzerland can bring their parents to Switzerland. Citizens of Switzerland can only bring parents with EU/EFTA residency. A proposal to extend this right to include the non-EU/EFTA based parents of Swiss citizens was rejected by the Council […]
Swiss parliament votes to cut UN aid to Palestine
On 9 September 2024, a majority of Switzerland’s parliament voted to suspend payments to the UNRWA, a part of the United Nations that supports the relief and human development of Palestinian refugees. The proposition was put forward by the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) and was supported by 99 versus 88 members, with 7 abstaining, reported […]
Swiss government wants to ban Hamas for 5 years
On 4 September 2024, Switzerland’s Federal Council told parliament that it wants the organisation Hamas banned in Switzerland for five years, reported RTS. In addition, the ban would cover organisations connected to Hamas so that they cannot be used as cover for the group. Groups acting on Hamas’ orders would also be included. The Federal […]
Swiss court hands heavy sentences to accused 1MDB fraudsters
Two directors of the company Petrosaudi were given heavy sentences this week by Switzerland’s federal criminal court in Bellinzona, reported RTS. The court ordered two men to repay the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund 1MDB nearly two billion US dollars, an amount made up of the missing US$ 1.75 billion plus 5% interest. In addition, they […]
Parents of Swiss jihadist in court accused of financing terrorism
On Monday, the parents of a Swiss jihadist appeared in court charged with financing terrorism. They were accused of sending more than CHF 50,000 to their son while he was in Syria, reported RTS. Switzerland’s federal prosecutor accused the man’s 70 year old father and 60 year old mother of funding terrorism. The prosecutor described […]
Government advises Swiss to leave Lebanon
On 31 July 2024, Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) advised all Swiss nationals to leave Lebanon. In addition, it advised against travel to the country. Middle eastern conflict, which has been highly volatile since 7 October 2023, has had a significant impact on the security situation in Lebanon, wrote the agency. There have […]
Switzerland to return to Afghanistan
Switzerland will reopen its humanitarian office in Afghanistan in autumn 2024 instead of summer as initially announced, reported SRF. Four employees will be sent from Switzerland to oversee humanitarian projects financed by the Swiss federal government in the Afghan capital Kabul. According to the newspaper NZZ am Sonntag, a spokesperson for Switzerland’s Foreign Ministry confirmed […]
Switzerland to spend 300 million defending Schengen borders
From 1 August 2024, Switzerland will begin contributing to a fund supporting the protection of the borders of the Schengen zone, a group of European nations with combined land borders of 8,000 km and sea borders of 43,000 km, reported RTS. A total of CHF 300 million has been budgeted to cover the period between […]
