News

Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have developed a new analytical method that can detect even tiny amounts of critical impurities in biogas. This procedure can be used even by small biogas plants without the need for major investment – thus facilitating the energy transition.

On 27 November 2025, the Conference of the States Parties to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) appointed Ambassador Sabrina Dallafior as Director-General. She will take up her new post on 25 July 2026. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) supported Sabrina Dallafior's candidacy and welcomes her appointment as the new OPCW Director-General.

The Council Meeting at Ministerial Level of the European Space Agency (ESA) held in Bremen on 26-27 November focused on the strategic orientation and financing of key space programmes for the coming years, totalling EUR 22.1 billion. Switzerland, represented by State Secretary Martina Hirayama, will contribute EUR 771 million to strengthen and advance the space sector in Europe together with its European partners.

In 2024, 2.14 million people worked in an enterprise controlled by a group, 0.8% more than the previous year. This increase was driven by Swiss-controlled multinationals, in which the number of jobs grew by 1.4%. The latter accounted for almost half of the jobs in all enterprise groups present in Switzerland. Foreign multinationals led in terms of turnover, generating nearly two-thirds of all turnover by enterprise groups in Switzerland. These are some of the latest findings from the Enterprise Groups Statistics of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

In 2024, the number of new recipients of pensions from the occupational pension system (2nd pillar) fell further compared with previous years, while the number of new recipients of lump-sum payments continued to rise. Among the beneficiaries, 45% received a pension, 36% a lump-sum payment and 19% a combination of a pension and lump sum. Some 92% of employees make contributions to a 2nd pillar pension. The share of contributors is greater among men than women. These are some of the findings of the Statistics on Old-Age Pension Provision produced by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

Address by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) on the occasion of the European Economic Forum in Lucerne – Check against delivery

At its meeting on 26 November, the Federal Council took a core decision about the unilateral safeguard clause relating to Croatia. This will be reactivated should the number of workers entering Switzerland from Croatia exceed a certain threshold by 31 December of this year. Quotas on the number of Croatian nationals coming to work in Switzerland may thus apply again next year.

At its meeting on 26 November 2025, the Federal Council decided to take concrete measures to support the implementation of the Gaza Peace Plan for peace in the Middle East presented by the United States. The Confederation is allocating a total of CHF 23 million to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, in particular to meet the needs of children, strengthen Palestinian institutions and promote regional stability. These various forms of support are in addition to the CHF 127 million already committed by the Confederation since October 2023, bringing its total humanitarian contribution to CHF 150 million.

As part of the FDFA's periodic rotation policy and on the basis of appointments made by the Federal Council, personnel changes will be made and ambassadorial titles conferred in 2025 and 2026 at several Swiss representations as well as at the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) and the Federal Department of Finance (FDF).

During its meeting on 26 November 2025, the Federal Council adopted the dispatch on the protocol of amendment to the double taxation agreement (DTA) with Croatia. It implements the minimum standards for double taxation agreements.

During its meeting on 26 November 2025, the Federal Council adopted the dispatch on the additional agreement supplementing the double taxation agreement (DTA) with Belgium. The agreement implements the minimum standards for double taxation agreements.

At its meeting on 26 November 2025, the Federal Council approved the amendment of the Ordinance on the International Automatic Exchange of Information in Tax Matters (AEOI Ordinance). The ordinance contains implementing provisions on amending the Federal Act on the International Automatic Exchange of Information in Tax Matters (AEOIA). Both pieces of legislation are due to come into force on 1 January 2026.