About: Switzerland
Neutral Switzerland leans closer to NATO in response to Russia
Switzerland's fabled neutral status is about to face its biggest test in decades, with the defence ministry tilting closer to Western military powers in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Swiss voters approve ‘Lex Netflix’ TV streaming funding law
Swiss voters on Sunday (15 May) backed proposals to make global TV streaming services such as Netflix Inc, Amazon and Disney invest some of their revenues generated in Switzerland into domestic film-making.
Russians have up to $213 billion stashed offshore in Swiss banks
Switzerland's secretive banks hold up to $213 billion of Russian wealth, the country's financial industry association estimates, as sanctions on Russia give a rare glimpse inside Swiss vaults.
Nord Stream 2 files for bankruptcy, fires employees
The Swiss-based company which built the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany is has filed for insolvency, a local official confirmed to Swiss radio broadcaster SRF on Tuesday (1 March).
Credit Suisse faces money laundering charges in trial of Bulgarian cocaine traffickers
Credit Suisse will face charges in a Swiss court on Monday (7 February) of allowing an alleged Bulgarian cocaine trafficking gang to launder millions of euros, some of it stuffed into suitcases.
Swiss slam brakes on subsidies for ‘con’ hybrid cars
A Swiss region has pulled subsidies for hybrid cars, citing a report which found they offered negligible emissions and fuel consumption advantages when tested on Alpine Switzerland's roads.
Swiss-EU relationship could fall apart if talks fail, EU’s Sefcovic says
The European Union's relationship with Switzerland could fall apart if negotiations over Switzerland's place in the EU internal market fail, European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič, told Der Spiegel magazine.
Swiss to allow simple legal gender transition from 1 January
People in Switzerland will be able to legally change gender by a visit to the civil registry office from 1 January, putting the country at the forefront of Europe's gender self-identification movement.
Worlds apart: Switzerland and EU keep talking past each other
The Swiss foreign minister was in Brussels to launch a political dialogue between the EU and Switzerland six months after the Swiss government decided to stop negotiations on a framework agreement between the EU and 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.