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WHAT CHANGES IN SWITZERLAND

Everything that changes in Switzerland in February 2024

From the motorway sticker deadline to the nationwide alarm system test, here are the changes to know about in Switzerland in February 2024.

Everything that changes in Switzerland in February 2024
This is what February looks like in Switzerland. Photo: Kipras Streimikis on Unsplash

February 1st: 2024 car sticker

On this day, the grace period for not having the 2024 vignette (either the paper pr digital version) is coming to an end.

If you are caught driving without it on a Swiss motorway, you could be fined 200 francs.

The 40-franc sticker, which can be purchased from petrol stations, post offices, border crossings, or online, is obligatory for all vehicles driving on Swiss motorways, regardless of whether you are a resident, tourist, or are just transiting through the country.

This map shows on which roads the vignette is compulsory.

Paper and electronic versions. Photo: Federal Office For Customs and Border Security

READ ALSO: What you need to know about Switzerland’s motorway charge sticker

February 1st: You will know where your bread comes from

New law that enters into force on February 1st mandates that the origin of all baked goods must be declared in writing in all Swiss bakeries, supermarkets, and restaurants.

February 7th: Nationwide alarm system to be tested

The 5,000 fixed and 2,200 mobile sirens in Switzerland will be tested on February 7th, as they are every year on the first Wednesday of February.

The test will be conducted between 1:30 pm and 4 pm.

Communication channels on the Alertswiss app will also be tested.

The signal – a steady oscillating siren lasting one minute – is intended to alert the population of an impending emergency or disaster. 

The second siren, used to warn people who live near dams of impending water-related danger, is a series of 12 bursts of 20 seconds each at ten-second intervals.

READ ALSO: Switzerland’s annual siren test

February 14th: Ash Wednesday

This day will mark not only the Valentine’s Day, but also the beginning of Lent, which starts with Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday, which this year falls on March 31st.

February 20th: Out of the darkness…light! (Though you my not even notice it)

On this day, daylight speeds up to three minutes per day, according to the Almanac, a very useful annual calendar that contains astronomical data and tide tables, among other information. 

“On the 20th, the day length is 10 hours, 53 minutes, and on the 21st, it’s 10 hours, 56 minutes,” it says.

This means that dark early mornings and dark early evenings are on the way out.

Hopefully, spring in on its way in.

Early mornings will no longer look like this. Photo: Pixabay
 

Throughout the month: Ski holidays

Like every year, February is traditional “family ski” month in Switzerland, when children get a week off from school (except in canton Lucerne where they will be off for two weeks), so families can head to mountain resorts.

Dates of this winter holidays vary among cantons; you can see the ones for your region here

Skiers face higher prices in some Swiss ski resorts. 

However, about half of Switzerland’s main resorts — including Zermatt, Verbier, and Crans-Montana, among others — are banking on the so-called ‘dynamic’ price model, which will allow you to purchase cheaper tickets. 

This means the price of the ski pass is not fixed, but depends on when you buy the ticket and when you plan to use it.

READ ALSO: Why do some Swiss ski resorts change their prices several times a day?

February 29th: A leap year

This event, which happens only every four years, is not a strictly Swiss phenomenon, of course.

But this is a reminder to let you know that in 2024, this month will be longer by one day!

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For members

WHAT CHANGES IN SWITZERLAND

Everything that changes in Switzerland in June 2024

From important referendums to train and road travel disruptions, these are the events and changes that are planned in Switzerland in June 2024.

Everything that changes in Switzerland in June 2024

June 1st: Switzerland strengthens its borders 

Due to the increased threat of terrorism during the European Football Championship in Germany and the Summer Olympics in France, Switzerland is ‘temporarily increasing’ controls at its borders, the Federal Council said.

Faced with these threats, the government has decided to reinforce controls at Swiss borders from June 1st until the end of the Paralympic Games, on September 8th, 2024.

June 1st: Swisscom could drop 20,000 customers

According to media reports, the country’s largest telecom operator will abandon its web hosting activity on June 1st. 

“It is suggesting that affected customers switch to one of the company’s subsidiaries: Localsearch, MTF Solutions, or Global IP Action,” 

The latter, however, requires a ‘switch’ fee of 9.50 francs .

June 4th: Fighter jets on a motorway

The A1 motorway between Avenches and Payerne in canton Vaud will be closed to ‘regular’ traffic from June 4th to 6th.

That’s because F/A-18 fighter jets will be landing on, and taking off from, this section of the highway.

The reason is that the Swiss Air Force will be testing whether in case of emergencies its fighter aircraft can also be deployed from improvised locations, such as motorways.

June 9th: National referendums

The Swiss will vote on some hot-button issues in a second round of national referendums.

Two proposals aiming to curb the cost of the obligatory health insurance (KVG / LaMal) are on the ballot.

The first one calls for capping the insurance rates at 10 percent of income, with the excess be paid for by the federal and cantonal governments.

The second provides for a ‘brake’ on health costs, which should evolve according to the economy and wages.

READ ALSO: How Switzerland’s two crucial health insurance referendums could impact you 

Also on the ballot is a proposal titled “For the freedom of physical integrity,” launched by the STOP compulsory vaccination committee of a group called Swiss Freedom Movement.

The initiative demands “protection of the body” against interference by the state — anything from vaccinations and other medical procedures to actions involving physical contact that could impact a person’s physical and mental state.

READ ALSO: What’s at stake in Switzerland’s ‘physical integrity’ referendum on June 9th? 

The fourth issue is the electricity supply.

That’s because supplying Switzerland with sufficient energy has become a challenge due to International conflicts and the restructuring of the European power grid.

Therefore, a new law sets the ground for Switzerland to rapidly produce more electricity from renewable energy sources such as water, sun, wind, and biomass. 

June 9th: Geneva to weigh in on foreigners’ voting rights

Geneva residents will go to the polls to decide on an initiative launched by the trade unions and political left, calling for foreigners who have lived in the canton for at least eight years to be able to vote and stand as candidates for political offices at the cantonal level.

Foreign nationals can already vote in Geneva on municipal level, but supporters of the initiative argue that his ‘upgrade’ to the cantonal voting rights is important, because it would enable foreigners to have more political impact.

READ ALSO: Could Geneva be first Swiss canton to grant foreign residents more voting rights? 

June 9th: International train disruption

From this day and for at least three months, the train service between Italian cities of Domodossola and Milan will be interrupted due to railway works, also disrupting travel between western Switzerland and Italy.

To make it easier for people from Switzerland to reach Italy during the peak summer travel, Swiss national rail company SBB is considering setting up direct buses from Geneva and Lausanne to Milan via the Grand Saint-Bernard tunnel.

“We are planning around three buses in each direction every day,” the company said. 

June 14th: Feminist strike

As in years past, women in Switzerland will take to the streets to highlight the gender bias that is widespread in the country, especially regarding work, wages, and childcare conditions. 

This annual event began in 2017, with women in various countries, including Switzerland, rallying for equal pay, as well as other gender and trans-gender rights.

June 15th -16th: Switzerland to host high-level conference on peace in Ukraine

The summit, to be held at the Bürgenstock resort in the canton of Nidwalden, aims to establish a forum on ways to achieve a lasting peace in Ukraine, in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.

While a number of countries have already accepted an invitation from the Swiss president Viola Armherd to attend the conference, Russia said it would not be there. 

June 20th: The first day of summer

Regardless of weather, June 20th marks the astronomical first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.

It will last until the first day of fall, that is, September 22nd.

Throughout the month: traffic disruptions 

Avoid these roads where congestion is expected to be heavier than usual:

A1

The motorway will be closed between the junctions of Gland and Coppet for nine nights between May 27th and July 11th. 

The road will first be closed between 10 pm and 5 am between Nyon and Coppet (direction Geneva),and  then between Nyon and Coppet (direction Lausanne).

Detours will be put in place on the secondary network.

Between Yverdon-Sud and Essert-Pittet, closure is planned from May 28th to June 4th.

And also during the nights of May 30th to June 4th, the Jura roadway will be closed off towards Lausanne, between the Yverdon Sud and Essert-Pittet junctions. Here too, detours will be clearly marked.

Gotthard tunnel

In June, the Gotthard road tunnel will be closed to traffic for a total of eight nights for maintenance work .

Nighttime closures will take place from June 17th to 21st and June 24th to 28th, from 8 pm to 5 am.

The Gotthard Pass, which remained closed at Pentecost due to heavy snowfall but was recently reopened, is among the detour routes.

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