Switzerland Today

Dear Swiss Abroad,

Ahead of Sunday’s big final between France and Argentina, FIFA’s Gianni Infantino told us today it was “the best World Cup ever”. “We had 3.27m spectators (in the stadiums) … we played 62 matches without incidents, with a very joyful atmosphere,” he declared.

Do you agree with the man from Valais about what happened on or off the pitch in Qatar?

Read on to find out what else has been going on in Switzerland today.

© Keystone / Alessandro Della Valle

In the news: Swiss terror suspects, Russia sanctions, UN Security Council seat, Covid-19 and Swiss Red Cross.

• Three Swiss terrorsuspects who went missing in north-eastern Syria in January are being held in detention camps run by Kurdish authorities, the Swiss foreign ministry has confirmed.
• The number of waste treatment plants used to monitor the spread of Covid-19 in wastewater in Switzerland has been cut by half following a cost-benefit analysis. Currently around 100 waste treatment plants belong to a national wastewater monitoring network to provide regular detailed assessments of Covid’s evolution nationwide. From January 1, 2023, the network will be reduced to 50 facilities, covering 44% of the population.
• Countries are expecting Switzerland to help build bridges when it takes its seat on the United Nations Security Council, says Swiss ambassador Pascale Baeriswyl. Switzerland is due to take up one of the ten non-permanent seats on the Security Council for the first time in its history on January 1, 2023. 
• Recommended Covid-19vaccinations will remain free in Switzerland in 2023, including for residents and cross-border workers not subject to compulsory health insurance, according to government measures adopted on Friday.
• Markus Mader, director-general of the SwissRed Cross (CRS), will leave the organisation at the end of the year. According to CRSExternal link, he was removed from his post due to differences of opinion over management issues. Four of the ten Red Cross directors have also resigned.
• The government has adopted further sanctionsExternal link against Russia, in line with the European Union. They relate to a price cap on Russian crude oil and petroleum products.

© Keystone / Gian Ehrenzeller

Swiss army provides more beds for refugees and asylum-seekers.

The army is stepping up its support to refugees and asylum-seekers. It will make available between 2,000-3,000 additional beds to help the authorities cope with the recent large influx of new arrivals, the government decidedExternal link on Friday.

The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) expects that by the end of the year the number of Ukrainians seeking protection in Switzerland will rise to around 75,000 and the number of new asylum applications could reach 24,000. 

Since spring, the SEM and the army have increased the number of beds available from 5,000 to over 9,000. They have also recruited additional staff for management and security roles. 

Up to 500 soldiers will also help with the preparation, management and operation of the accommodation, as well as the care and medical supervision of the refugees and asylum seekers staying there.

In addition to refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine, in recent months growing numbers of migrants have entered Switzerland and Germany via the western Balkans and central Mediterranean migration routes.

© Keystone / Christian Beutler

Swiss to enjoy much faster internet connections from 2024.

On Friday the Federal Council amended the law to increase internet speeds in Switzerland under the so-called “universal service obligation”. The aim is to “benefit people living in areas where no equivalent services exist on the market”.

Under the revision, the government decidedExternal link that from 2024 it would increase the current average download speed from 10 to 80 Megabits (Mbps) and raise the upload speed from 1 to 8 Mbps. 

“Access to fast and reliable broadband services is essential for all segments of the population throughout the country, as demonstrated not least during the coronavirus pandemic,” it said.

The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in a big increase in hybrid work and use of the internet. While Swiss cities and towns already enjoy a good service, this is not the case in some rural areas. Currently, around 400,000 households do not have a broadband connection.

A price cap will be fixed on the new faster internet connection: maximum CHF60 per month; a basic service (10 Mbps) will be maintained at a cheaper price.

Swisscom has provided the universal service since the liberalisation of the telecommunications market in 1998. Its licence expires at the end of 2023.