Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK
For members

MEMBERS

Everything that changes in Switzerland in June 2021

Fewer restrictions and more vaccinations are in store in Switzerland in the month of June in 2021.

Published: 21 May 2021 22:08 CEST
Updated: 6 June 2021 09:23 CEST
Everything that changes in Switzerland in June 2021
Swiss will vote on several issues on June 13th. Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP

 Far fewer restrictions in June

The month will begin with many Covid-19 measures relaxed or lifted altogether. Among them are the re-opening of indoor areas of restaurants, increasing the number of people allowed for private gatherings indoors to 30 and outdoors to 50. For events with spectators and audiences, 100 people instead of 50 will be permitted indoors, and 300 instead of 100 outdoors.

Home working obligation will be lifted for companies that perform regular testing, and no contact or travel quarantine will be required for those fully vaccinated or recovered from Covid for six months.

Restaurants will be open in June. STEFAN WERMUTH / AFP

READ MORE: Switzerland to further relax coronavirus measures from Monday

Swiss will vote (again) on June 13th

The five issues that are at stake include the controversial Anti-Covid Law, which would give the government a legal basis to impose restrictions aimed at tackling the pandemic on an ongoing basis.

The CO2 Act seeks to introduce several taxes and measures to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

The Anti-Terrorism legislation would strengthen previous standards against terrorism and organised crime, punishing recruitment, training and travel with an intent to commit a terrorist act.

The Clean Drinking Water Initiative “requires that agricultural subsidies be allocated only to agricultural practices that do not harm the environment and do not pollute drinking water”.

They refer specifically to pesticides, antibiotics, and imports of fodder and fertilizers used in farming.

The initiative “For a Switzerland free of synthetic pesticides” calls for the ban on these products in agriculture, in the public sphere, and would also apply to imports of products from abroad.

Summer begins (hopefully)

June 21st marks the beginning of summer in Switzerland and the entire Northern Hemisphere.

Given the lack of real spring throughout much of April and May, which were dominated mainly by low temperatures, a lot of rain, and snow at low altitudes, we can only hope summer will bring sunshine and warmth.

Immunity card

Swiss authorities have promised to put in place a coronavirus immunity passport – which entitles vaccinated people to various privileges – by the end of June when the first measures related to its use will come into force.

On a domestic level, benefits will include attending events, playing sport and visiting restaurants, while at an international level it will include travel. 

READ MORE: Switzerland promises Covid-19 passport ‘by the summer’

Accelerated vaccinations

In its three-phase strategy that the Swiss government has set up for gradual easing of the remaining coronavirus measures, the entire adult population will have access to the vaccines, and everyone who wants to be vaccinated will have received at least the first dose by the end of June, authorities said.

Member comments

  1. Any idea when vaccinated US guests will be allowed in? It is my understanding that such people no longer have a mandatory quarantine. However there is another list that governs entry that currently bars leisure travelers from flights that originate in the US. Is there any sense of a time line when that may be lifted?

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

QUALITY OF LIFE

‘Pleasantly constant’: Why Switzerland ranks as the ‘world’s best country’ — again

For the sixth time, Switzerland wins the coveted title of the world’s top country in an international ranking. Why does the nation make it to the no.1 spot —time after time?

Published: 6 September 2023 11:31 CEST
'Pleasantly constant': Why Switzerland ranks as the 'world’s best country' — again

It’s official: Switzerland has been ranked ahead of 87 other countries analysed by the US News & World Report for its 2023 ranking, which was released on Wednesday morning. 

It is the sixth time that Switzerland tops the rankings, which measure a country’s global performance based on 73 categories. They include entrepreneurship; quality of life; adaptability and progress; social purpose; and other attributes listed here. 

What exactly makes Switzerland the best in the world?

The country “snags the top spot for business-friendliness and education, “and ranks in the top 10 for quality of life, social purpose and cultural influence,” according to study authors. “Among attributes, it was considered No.1 for being economically stable, safe and least corrupt.”

“And while people may not see it as the sexiest place, they would like to live there.”

One of Switzerland’s top qualities, the study showed, is ‘consistency.’

Unlike the political and economic volatility of many other countries, “there is something pleasantly constant about Switzerland,” the survey found.

It is true that change of any kind is slow to come here.

Part of the reason for this sluggishness is cultural: the Swiss don’t like spontaneity (unless it’s planned) or doing anything on a whim. 

They believe that rushing things and making hasty decisions will have disastrous results, which is why they prefer to take a cautious — even if painstakingly slow — path.

As a general rule, the Swiss have a penchant not only for planning, but for pre-planning as well. They like to thoroughly examine each aspect of a proposed change and look at it from all possible angles.

Another reason (besides the cultural one mentioned above) contributes to Switzerland’s notorious slowness in decision-making — the country’s political system.

Due to Switzerland’s decentralised form of government, the Federal Council must consult with cantons before a decision can be made at the national level.

That, as you can imagine, could take a while as each of the 26 cantons may drag their individual feet, and there could be no consensus among them.

READ ALSO : Why are things so slow to change in Switzerland? 

While some may see this ‘consistency’ as a negative, the US News & World Report considers it to be a definite plus.

How did Switzerland rank in major categories?

‘Open for business’

In this category, the country is in the first place (100 points out of 100).

Simply, this means  the country  is ‘business friendly’ because the government has created a good environment for businesses to thrive. 

“Switzerland has low unemployment, a skilled labour force and one of the highest gross domestic products per capita in the world,” the report relates. 

‘Educated population’

Here, too, Switzerland excels (100 points, first place).

Switzerland not only has an excellent and accessible education system, but according to Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), well over 80 percent of the country’s population have an upper secondary education or above.

This proportion is higher than the OECD average of 75 percent.

READ ALSO: How can foreigners get into a Swiss university?

‘Quality of life’

Here, Switzerland also got a high score ( 96.7), which places it in the fourth place.

This particular category, which includes essentials such as broad access to food, housing, quality education, healthcare, and employment, also comprises “intangibles such as job security, political stability, individual freedom and environmental quality.”

This is not exactly a surprise, as Switzerland often ranks highly in this category in other international surveys as well. 

In which categories does Switzerland rate poorly?

‘Power’

Switzerland’s score here is 26, which lands it in the 20th place.

But this is actually good news, if you consider criteria for this category:

“The world’s most powerful countries also are the ones that consistently dominate news headlines, preoccupy policymakers and shape global economic patterns. Their foreign policies and military budgets are tracked religiously.”

Needless to say, Switzerland has no interest in wielding global power.

Besides (unintentionally) invading neighbouring Liechtenstein on three occasions, Switzerland is not at all power-hungry.

This is not only because it is neutral, but also because its politics is based on peaceful coexistence.

(The number 1 spot in this category was snagged, not surprisingly, by the United States).

‘Movers’

This too is not a major surprise, since the sub-category here is ‘dynamic’, for which Switzerland was given a low score of 29.1.

The country did a bit better in the ‘distinctive’ and ‘unique’ sub-category, with scores of 43.5 and 42.1, respectively.

Overall, Switzerland is in the 26th place.

You can see details of each category here.

What is the Swiss reaction to the report?

Overwhelmingly positive, of course.

“What people love about us is our reliability and our predictability,” said Jacques Pitteloud, the Swiss ambassador to the U.S.

“With us, you know what you get, which is rare nowadays,” Alexandre Edelmann, head of Presence Switzerland, a government agency that promotes the country abroad, pointed out.

SHOW COMMENTS