News

Switzerland, together with other partner countries of the “Future of Investment and Trade Partnership” (FIT Partnership), has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the rules-based trading system and to effective WTO reform. The adopted ministerial declaration sends an important signal in support of open and reliable global trade.

The Federal Tax Administration has updated the course listings and bonus shares 2025.

With its new four-part coin series, “Swiss lakes”, Swissmint is portraying the diversity of Switzerland's lakes. The “Lake Geneva” special coin will add a third coin to the series on 19 March 2026.

“Hedgehog”, the latest special coin, is Swissmint's tribute to Pro Natura's Animal of the Year for 2026. Issued on 19 March 2026, this bimetallic coin showcases this threatened species.

Cinema attendance in Switzerland has fallen below the 10 million mark for the first time in almost half a century except during the pandemic years. The market share of American films has fallen sharply, while that of European and Swiss films has risen.These are some of the final results from the 2025 Swiss Film and Cinema Statistics compiled by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

At its meeting on 13 March 2026, the Federal Council approved the dispatch to Parliament on the stabilisation and further development of Swiss–EU relations package (Bilaterals III). The Federal Council's intention with this bill is to stabilise and future-proof the tried-and-tested bilateral approach with the EU. The package is in Switzerland's interest. It ensures the continuity of economic, scientific and social relations with the EU, Switzerland's most important trading partner. In view of the tense geopolitical situation, stable and reliable relations with neighbouring European countries are of strategic importance.

During its meeting on 13 March 2026, the Federal Council approved a total of four supplementary credits. It is thus requesting additional expenditure of CHF 98 million for this year. Most of these funds will go towards EU research and innovation programmes. A portion of the supplementary credits will be offset on the expenditure side.

New synthetic drugs can harbour considerable health risks – consumers cannot estimate the risks. To combat these designer drugs effectively, the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) is adding further substances to the Narcotics List Ordinance with effect from 13 March 2026. This makes these substances subject to the Narcotics Act; their manufacture, trade and use are illegal.

Bern, 6 March 2026 – The Federal Council has adopted the report in response to the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council (FAC-N) postulate 23.4340 ‘Foreign policy implications of the massive rise in antisemitism in Switzerland. Review of potential countermeasures’. The Federal Council notes that the resurgence of antisemitism since autumn 2023 represents a serious challenge for social cohesion and security, but concludes that the situation, as it currently stands, does not warrant the introduction of additional foreign policy measures.

The Swiss Science Council SSC has submitted its statement as part of the consultation process on the reorganisation of extra-parliamentary commissions. In it, it firmly rejects the Federal Council's proposal to abolish the SSC.

There is more than just graphene: In an interdisciplinary project, Empa researchers have focused on a new class of two-dimensional materials known as MXenes. This versatile group of materials is suitable for a wide range of applications, from energy storage to medicine. The project team has made significant progress in modeling and synthesizing MXenes.

Bern, 11.03.2026 – The UN sanctions committee has amended the list of sanctioned individuals, companies and organizations. The SESAM database has been updated accordingly. Furthermore, formal corrections have been made to some entries.