About: Switzerland
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.
Strong Swiss gun culture faces EU pressure
Switzerland, where gun culture has deep roots, has managed to avoid the charged national debates over firearm ownership that have consumed other countries.
Kazakh Minister: Growing interest for next round of Astana talks
The next round of talks under the so-called Astana Process will take place next month, and there is a growing international interest for this forum, First Deputy of the Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Tileuberdi told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.
Britain and Switzerland to sign post-Brexit trade agreement
Britain and Switzerland will sign an agreement on Monday (11 February) to continue trading on preferential terms after Brexit, the British trade department said, protecting a trade relationship worth 32 billion pounds (€36.5 billion).
EU-Swiss treaty ‘dead as doornail’ as labour boycotts talks
Switzerland's plan to forge a new treaty cementing ties with the European Union has hit the rocks after the normally pro-Europe centre left joined the far right in resisting a deal that Swiss labour unions say might undermine wages and working conditions.
Swiss to revisit talks on full treaty with EU after summer break
Switzerland said on Wednesday (4 July) it had put further talks on a new treaty governing relations with the European Union, including sensitive labour market rules, on hold until after the summer break.
Swiss see no quick deal on new EU treaty
Switzerland will not meet the European Commission's deadline for a deal in the early part of this year on a new treaty that would bind the neutral country more closely to its biggest trading partner, new Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said.
EFTA court boss quits, reducing UK’s post-Brexit chances
One of the main proponents of British membership of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) - a possible option for the UK's post-Brexit trade regime - quit on Wednesday (15 November) after 14 years at the helm of EFTA’s court.
Emissions Trading System failures sour energy policy efforts
Doubts about the effectiveness of the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) resurfaced on Tuesday (19 September) at an energy conference in Estonia, as a low carbon price continues to stymie energy market efforts.
Report: Switzerland lost 90% of its ponds within two centuries
Intensive agriculture has gradually dried them out, and soils are no longer able to handle violent rains, creating increased flooding and lethal mud slides. EURACTIV's partner Ouest-France reports.
Police reveal international dimensions of Barcelona attack
Spanish police searched on Sunday (20 August) for the man behind the wheel in the Barcelona van attack that killed 13 people, amid growing signs members of the militant group had connections elsewhere in Europe.
The EU and Switzerland link their carbon markets
The world’s first carbon trading system has found a new partner in Switzerland. EURACTIV France reports.
German nuclear damage shows atomic and renewable power are unhappy bedfellows
A Germany nuclear plant was damaged because its operators increased and decreased its output to respond to energy grid fluctuations. The incident supports the theory that nuclear and renewable energy generation are incompatible. EURACTIV’s partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.
Cyprus reunification talks collapse, UN chief ‘very sorry’
Talks to reunify the divided island of Cyprus collapsed in the early hours of Friday (7 July), UN Secretary General António Guterres said after a stormy final session.
Bern demands progress in Swiss-EU talks
Several political and economic issues remain open in neutral Switzerland's talks on future ties with the European Union, the Bern government said on Wednesday (28 June), linking progress in negotiations to whether it continues to pay into the EU budget.
Cyprus leaders under pressure to strike peace deal
Rival Cypriot leaders at a make-or-break summit in Switzerland this week will come under pressure to finally seal an elusive peace deal for their divided island or face the consequences.