About: Switzerland
Biden to confront Putin in tense Geneva summit
President Joe Biden will draw "red lines" for President Vladimir Putin at a tense Geneva summit on Wednesday (16 June), where ghosts of the Cold War will hover over modern-day US concerns that Russia has become a rogue, authoritarian state.
Does Switzerland try to friendzone the EU?
The Swiss Federal Council decided to withdraw from the framework agreement with the European Union. It is now imperative to clarify that both sides pursue a completely different kind of relationship, writes Stefan Legge.
CAP impact: voices from beyond EU borders
From competition with local products to the recent focus on agriculture sustainability, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) carries a lot of clout on the EU’s neighbours and trade partners. In this video reportage, EURACTIV asked agriculture stakeholders and representatives from...
US, Russia to hold Arctic talks in push for summit
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russia's veteran Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov were expected to hold talks on Wednesday night (19 May) amid a push to agree a presidential summit despite dire ties between the former Cold War foes.
Swiss agree to outlaw facial coverings in ‘burqa ban’ vote
A far-right proposal to ban facial coverings in Switzerland won a narrow victory in a binding referendum on Sunday instigated by the same group that organised a 2009 ban on new minarets.
EU ambassador to Switzerland says treaty talks finished
The European Union will not reopen parts of a stalled bilateral treaty with Switzerland, the EU ambassador to the Alpine republic said in an interview with newspaper Blick, taking a hard line on Swiss misgivings over talks that have lasted years.
Eight detained after Vienna attack had previous convictions
Eight of those detained following Monday night's terrorist attack in Vienna had previous convictions, including for terror offences, the Austrian interior minister said Thursday (5 November), as the investigation extended to Switzerland and a second, unnamed country.
Germany warns against travel to ski regions in Austria, Switzerland, Italy
Germany has issued travel warnings for popular ski regions in Austria, Italy and Switzerland, scrambling to contain the spread of the coronavirus as new infection numbers rose above 10,000 a day for the first time.
Swiss voters refuse immigration cuts, EU sees ‘great future’ in relationship
Swiss voters on Sunday (27 September) rejected a bid to slash immigration from the EU, leaving free movement in the heart of Europe intact, and embraced offering paid paternity leave for the first time.
Swiss vote threatens free movement in heart of Europe
A Swiss vote Sunday (27 September) on limiting EU immigration is not expected to pass, but fears abound that a shock "yes" could deal a fatal blow to relations with the bloc.
Swiss-Austrian alliance plans night-train boost by 2024
New night-train services linking Switzerland with Amsterdam, Barcelona and Rome are going to roll out by 2024, a Swiss-Austrian rail operator alliance announced on Tuesday (15 September).
French, Swiss and Germans partner up in fight against disease-spreading tiger mosquito
Faced with the rapid rise in disease-spreading tiger mosquitoes, a team of French, German and Swiss scientists have combined forces and knowledge to halt their expansion. EURACTIV France reports.
Gas grid operators unveil plan for European hydrogen infrastructure ‘backbone’
A group of eleven European gas infrastructure companies from nine EU member states presented on Friday (17 July) a plan to create a dedicated hydrogen pipeline network of almost 23,000 km by 2040, to be used in parallel to the natural gas grid.
Austria’s Kurz aims to lift border controls to Switzerland by June
Austria aims to ease some border controls with Switzerland within days and to end all controls by June, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told Swiss broadcaster SRF on Tuesday (12 May), as countries push ahead with loosening COVID-19 restrictions.
Switzerland promises UN improved climate plan
Switzerland has become one of the first nations to confirm to the UN that it will enhance its emissions reduction target for 2030. But details about its new strategy are still scant EURACTIV's partner Climate Home News reports.
Swiss government warns voters against cancelling EU free-movement pact
The Swiss government on Tuesday (11 February) urged voters to reject a referendum push by the right-wing Swiss People's Party to end an accord with the European Union on the free movement of citizens.
Swiss to vote again on EU migrant curbs
The Swiss will in May vote on a proposal that could dramatically limit immigration from the EU, six years after a similar referendum nearly destroyed relations with the bloc.
Swiss oppose ‘Brexit moment’ in EU relations: poll
Most Swiss oppose a referendum campaign launched by the far-right to end the free movement of citizens from the European Union, according to a poll published on Sunday (5 January).
Why Brussels shouldn’t be scared of Singapore-on-Thames
Boris Johnson wants to turn the UK into a low-tax, lean-regulation paradise attracting business from the continent. The plan won’t work, writes Joseph de Weck.
Swiss politics goes Green with a capital G
The surge in support for Green parties in the Swiss elections suggests that the Alpine country is shying away from right-wing populism and euroscepticism, writes Denis MacShane.
Switzerland pledges climate neutrality by 2050
The Swiss government announced on Wednesday (28 August) that it will cut its greenhouse gas emissions to a net-zero level by 2050, taking heed of a landmark UN report on climate change.
Two-thirds of Swiss companies want treaty with EU
Two out of three Swiss companies want Switzerland to sign a draft treaty negotiated with the European Union, a poll for business lobby Economiesuisse found, highlighting the country's political divide over its biggest foreign policy decision.
Swiss vote to tighten gun laws and stay in Schengen
The Swiss voted Sunday (19 May) to toughen their gun laws and bring them in line with EU legislation, heeding warnings that rejecting the change could have threatened relations with the bloc.