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THE WEEK IN SWITZERLAND

Six big news stories from Switzerland you shouldn’t miss this week

Economic forecasts for Switzerland for 2024, and higher public transport prices are among the big news stories in Switzerland this week. Catch up on everything in this weekly roundup.

Six big news stories from Switzerland you shouldn't miss this week
It is not too late to catch up with an advent wreath. Image by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay

Can third-country nationals settle in Switzerland?

It is very difficult for people from third countries to get a permit to work in Switzerland, much less to live here long-term.

Conditions for both are very tight.

But there are some circumstances under which non-EU / EFTA nationals are allowed to settle in Switzerland indefinitely — as long as all the conditions are met.

READ ALSO: Can a non-EU / EFTA citizen live permanently in Switzerland?

Are Swiss consumers splurging on gifts this holiday season?

If this holiday season is anything like last year’s, the Swiss are not going to skimp on their Christmas shopping. — regardless of inflation and other financial constraints.

While it is too early to say exactly how much will be spent on gifts, based on retail figures from Black Friday (November 24th), which is often seen as precursor to Christmas shopping, the season has started with a bang.

Swiss consumers spent 490 million francs in 24 hours — 10 million francs more than the previous year.

READ ALSO: Are the Swiss big spenders when it comes to Christmas presents?

Will some prices in Switzerland drop in 2024 ?

Some services, like health insurance, electricity, rents, and public transport, will become more  expensive next year.

However, at the same time some prices will drop — bringing at least a bit of financial relief to money-strapped Swiss households.

READ ALSO: What will be cheaper and more expensive in Switzerland in 2024?

What’s ahead for Switzerland’s economy — and you — in 2024?

While it is difficult to issue accurate predictions for next year, experts agree that in at least some aspects, 2024 will be a relatively good year for Switzerland’s residents.

For instance, according to UBS bank, “economists expect high immigration, a robust labour market, and excess savings to support consumption in Switzerland in 2024.”

READ ALSO: What will happen to the Swiss economy in 2024?

Annual public transport subscriptions to become more expensive

From December 10th, when the new train timetable kicks off in Switzerland, the new (higher) tariffs will go into effect as well.
 
For the first time in seven years, the price of GA Travelcards —  annual subscription that gives you unrestricted access to Swiss public railways, post buses, public boat services, as well as the urban local transport in buses and trams — will increase by about 4.3 percent, the national rail company, SBB announced.

READ ALSO: How the Swiss Travelcard will get more expensive

Is Geneva a safe city?

Generally yes, as is the whole of Switzerland.

Nevertheless, local residents will advise you to avoid three inner-city neighbourhoods if you want to avoid pickpockets and fights among rival motorcycle gangs — especially after dark.

READ ALSO: Are there any parts of Geneva you need to avoid? 

Also in the news this week:

If you missed your rendez-vous with Saint Nicholas on December 6th, don’t worry — there are still plenty of holiday festivities taking place in Switzerland from now until Christmas.

You can still catch the Advent windows, and purchase the advent wreathe with candles.

READ ALSO: Three Swiss Christmas traditions you should know about

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For members

THE WEEK IN SWITZERLAND

Six big news stories from Switzerland you need to know about this week

Russia's cyberattacks on Swiss government websites and deadly explosion near Zurich are among the Swiss news The Local reported this week. You can catch up on everything in this weekly roundup.

Six big news stories from Switzerland you need to know about this week

Government will have to implement measures to cut the cost of health insurance

After Swiss voters rejected two initiatives to curb the price of obligatory health insurance premiums on June 9th, it is now up to the Federal Council and the cantons to step in with their own counter-proposals.

These measures provide for various ways to curb the cost of premiums, including earmarking a portion of public budgets for premium reductions for low-income families, as well as setting up a commission for monitoring costs and quality of health insurance. 

Switzerland’s international schools are most expensive in Europe

Ninety-four schools in 10 Swiss cities are geared specifically to students whose parents are foreign nationals and want their children to get an international education that is recognised abroad more widely than a solely Swiss schooling is — especially outside the EU.

But according to a  new survey carried out by International Schools Database, which researches and compares schools in cities across the world, the cost of tuition and other services at these schools (such as extra-curricular activities, for instance), is higher than in international institutions across Europe.
 
READ ALSO: Why are international schools in Switzerland the most expensive in Europe? 

Russia launches cyberattacks on Swiss government websites

Just as Switzerland is preparing to launch a high-level summit on peace in Ukraine, its websites had been hit by a wave of cyberattacks.

Russia is suspected to be at the origin of these actions.

The government said, however, that these attacks were expected and are presumed to be in connection with the summit. They resulted in minor outages but the operation of the affected units was not significantly affected.

READ ALSO: Swiss government hit by cyberattack ahead of Ukraine peace summit 

Deadly explosion in an underground garage
 
Two people died, and 11 were injured in a town near Zurich when powerful fireworks exploded in the underground car park of an apartment building. 

The incident happened in Nussbaumen, in canton Aargau.

But while the cause of the blast is known, investigators are looking into how exactly the incident occurred.
 
READ ALSO: Two killed after explosions in Swiss underground garage 

Buying property could become less expensive

Thanks to falling mortgage interest rates — due mostly to two key rate cuts still expected from the Swiss National Bank (SNB) — mortgages are now significantly lower than they were at this time in 2023.

Many are now below 2 percent and they are expected to drop further by the beginning of 2025.

This is already the case in the cantons of Bern, Solothurn, Aargau, Schaffhausen, and Thurgau, as well as in certain areas of Vaud, Fribourg, and Valais, where buying a home is also already cheaper than renting.

READ ALSO: Property prices in Switzerland set to become (slightly) more affordable 

And also:
 
Have you caught football fever yet?

It is not dangerous to our health but its cure is straight-forward: you must watch the EURO 2024 games.
 
Whether indoors or outside, there are many opportunities to cheer on the Swiss ‘Nati’ which, depending on the linguistic region where you live could be ‘Hopp Schwiiz,’ ‘Hop Suisse,’ or ‘Hop Svizzera.’

READ ALSO: Where you can watch Euro 2024 in Switzerland 
 
 

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