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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.

At its meeting on 26 November 2025, the Federal Council approved the report in response to postulate 22.4411 Z'graggen ‘Switzerland's Digital Sovereignty’. The report defines digital sovereignty for Switzerland, explains how it must be structured to enable the state to fulfil its tasks in the digital space, and proposes measures to further strengthen digital sovereignty. The Federal Council is establishing an interdepartmental working group in order to anticipate security and foreign policy developments and their impact on digital resources. The group will also continuously update the overview contained in the report and coordinate measures.

The National Armaments Director, Urs Loher, will meet with the Finnish Armaments Director, Olli Ruutu, for bilateral talks in Helsinki, Finland on 25 November 2025. The exchange will focus on current security and arms policy topics as well as possible cooperations in the armaments area.

Swissmedic, the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products, has taken on new tasks in recent years and is investing in the digitalisation of its systems and processes. To this end, reserves were built up and operating expenditure was increased during periods of rising income up until 2023. Since income has grown less strongly since 2024 than in the preceding years, Swissmedic ended last year with a deficit of 23.4 million Swiss francs and is also budgeting for losses in the next few years. As a result, the reserves are declining faster than planned. To avoid structural deficits, Swissmedic is optimising the use of its resources.

For the entire Swiss economy (private and public sectors together), the gross median monthly wage for a full-time (100%) position was CHF 7024 in 2024. One in ten employees earned a low wage. The wage gap between men and women continues to narrow. Almost one in three employees (32.6%) received an annual bonus, averaging CHF 11 967. The wage pyramid remained relatively stable between 2008 and 2024. These are the initial findings of the Swiss Earnings Structure Survey 2024 conducted by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

It is rare for satellites to return to Earth intact after their mission in space – one example is the European satellite EURECA. Empa researchers have studied the satellite using various non-destructive X-ray methods. These could be used in future in the development of reusable space technologies, as well as in aviation and the automotive industry.