Special permit could be required for foreigners to buy a home in Switzerland, and how the move to curb immigration would worsen Geneva’s traffic problems – these are among the news that The Local reported this week. You can catch up on everything in this weekly roundup.
Foreigners who want to buy Swiss real estate could face stricter rules
Foreign nationals living abroad will be required to obtain a special permit before purchasing a home in Switzerland.
In an effort to combat the housing shortage, the government intends to make the access to primary residences by non-resident nationals of countries outside the European Union and EFTA (Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein) subject to special authorisation.
The Federal Council also plans to tighten restrictions regarding holiday homes. The annual quotas available to the cantons for purchases of these residences by third-country citizens will be reduced.
READ MORE: Swiss government to tighten rules on foreigners buying property
How the move to curb immigration would worsen Geneva’s traffic problems
On June 14th, voters will have their say on a hard-right’s proposal to limit the number of foreigners allowed to settle in Switzerland, in order to prevent further population growth. Approval of this initiative would present challenges not only to the country as a whole, but especially to the canton of Geneva.
That’s because if the SVP’s push is approved in a referendum and the number of new foreign residents will dwindle, companies would almost certainly hire more cross-border commuters, which would further exacerbate Geneva’s notorious traffic jams.
READ MORE: How would Switzerland’s anti-immigration vote impact Geneva?
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Edelweiss discontinues two of its US-bound flights
Citing ‘geopolitical’ reasons, Edelweiss airline is stopping, with immediate effect, its flights from Zurich to Denver and Seattle.
Additionally, the frequency of another US-bound flight – from Zurich to Las Vegas – “will be reduced during the early summer and autumn.”
The reasons given for these moves are “geopolitical developments” – including the soaring price of jet fuel – as well as “declining demand for certain destinations in the USA.”
READ MORE: Edelweiss airline scraps some flights between Switzerland and the United States
MPs to debate the new Swiss-EU deal
In the coming weeks, deliberations on the new batch of Swiss-EU agreements will begin in the parliamentary committees.
While the complete package covers 94 agreements outlined on 1,000 pages, some points are considered particularly contentious and are expected to spark heated debates among the deputies.
Among the most contentious issues are immigration, adoption of the EU law, dispute settlement mechanism, as well as electricity supply.
READ MORE: Swiss lawmakers set to rule on controversial points of EU deal
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Government won’t intervene in Swiss petrol price hike
Since the start of the war in Iran on February 28th – and particularly the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz – pump prices in Switzerland have soared.
But even though In neighbour states like Germany, Austria, and Italy governments are introducing various measures to alleviate the burden of higher gasoline prices on their consumers, the Federal Council has no plans to do so in Switzerland, as it decided that price fluctuations do not constitute grounds for federal intervention.
READ MORE: Why is Swiss government not taking action over rising petrol prices?
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More rich foreigners settle in lakeside Zurich communities
Previously made up mostly of middle-class households, the Pfnüselküste in Zurich has been attracting rich foreigners to its shores, who now outnumber Swiss residents.
As rich foreigners drive up real estate prices in the area, less wealthy residents may be forced to relocate.
That’s because as the wealthy move in and prices go up, the lower and middle-class people can no longer afford to live in these communities and end up moving away.
READ MORE: How wealthy foreigners are driving up prices in Zurich neighbourhoods
