New rules that could impact EU immigrants and a plan for a train between Basel and Malmö – these are among the news stories that The Local reported this week. You can catch up on everything in this weekly roundup.
New pact will impact EU workers in Switzerland
Bern concluded a package of treaties with the European Union in December 2024.
Some modifications included therein could affect the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons, a key law which has been the backbone of Switzerland’s immigration policy for over two decades.
Some of these changes – which still need to be approved by Swiss voters in a referendum – relate to wages, permanent residence status, and family reunification rules.
READ ALSO: How could Switzerland’s new treaties with the EU impact immigration?
Why the train from Basel to Malmö may not be on the right track
Switzerland’s parliament wants to subsidise a new night train linking Basel with Malmö in Sweden, but not everyone is on board with this plan.
The reason is that the budget attributed to the national railway company SBB for international routes is tight, so spending must be curbed.
But the train, planned for 2026, will cost the lion’s share of the budget, so a number of MPs are arguing that the Sweden-bound train would be “a waste of taxpayers’ money.
READ ALSO: Why is the plan for a train between Switzerland and Sweden sparking controversy?
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Basel tightens rules around its swimming pools, may ban French bathers
After the town of Porrentruy in canton Jura prohibited people from neighbouring France to use its municipal pool, Basel is implementing tougher measures as well.
Like Porrentruy, Basel also lies very close to France; in fact, it shares a border with the French city of Saint-Louis.
Some of Basel’s public pools also report experiencing “problematic behaviour, including harassment”, instigated by bathers from across the border
Therefore, the canton is now taking measures to get the situation under control; Its spokesperson said that authorities want to better enforce the rules and, if necessary, issue bans as well.
READ ALSO: One more Swiss city eyes banning French bathers from its swimming pools
There are hot-button, foreigner-related issues in Switzerland right now
Even though politics (like everything else) slows down in Switzerland during the summer months, some topics and debates focused on foreign nationals are ongoing.
They concern those living in Switzerland and non-resident foreigners alike.
Foremost among them are issues related to wages – with research showing that foreign employees earn less than Swiss – the changes included in the bilateral agreement with the EU, a new tax that could be levied on foreign drivers transiting through Switzerland, as well as other measures.
READ MORE: The issues facing foreigners in Switzerland this summer
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New ticks are on the prowl in Switzerland
Two varieties of disease-spreading ticks that are not native to Switzerland are actively invading the country.
One of them is the Hyalomma tick, whose bite could be fatal to humans and dogs alike.
The second, the Marsh Tick, can cause fever, swollen lymph nodes, and skin changes at the bite site.
These creatures are most abundant in the Jura, Emmental, and Toggenburg regions, and parts of the Zurich Oberland as well.
READ ALSO: New tick species spreading in Switzerland – here’s what you need to know
