News

In response to the severe damage caused by Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean, Switzerland is stepping up its humanitarian efforts in the region. The FDFA has released over CHF 1 million to help those affected in Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica and is deploying nine specialists to Cuba to support the Red Cross there with the relief operations on the ground.

On 29 and 30 October, the research directors of the Defence Procurement Groups from Germany, Austria and Switzerland met at armasuisse in Zurich. The focus was on research projects, innovation, robotics, drones and their defence. The host was armasuisse Science and Technology under the direction of Thomas Rothacher.

On 30 October 2025, the Federal Department of Economic Affairs (EAER) has updated the document “Interpretative aid for sanction measures”. The modifications are visible in track changes mode.

On 28 October, Switzerland and Bulgaria signed a framework agreement in Sofia on the implementation of a bilateral cooperation programme on migration under the second Swiss contribution to selected EU member states. Under the programme, CHF 21.35 million will be used to finance the accommodation and care of unaccompanied minor asylum seekers and the digitalisation of asylum procedures. Through this programme, Switzerland is helping to strengthen European migration management.

At the Digital Switzerland Advisory Board meeting on 30 October the focus was on information security and cybersecurity. Under the chairmanship of Federal Councillor Martin Pfister and with the participation of Federal Chancellor Viktor Rossi, representatives from the cantons, business, academia and civil society met to exchange views on the current state of national cybersecurity measures. The discussions centred on information security and cybersecurity in the context of the National Cyberstrategy, and highlighted specific areas for action and examples of what works in practice.

National Armaments Director Urs Loher will take part in the annual NATO Conference of National Armament Directors (CNAD) on 30 October 2025, which will be held with NATO partner states in Brussels. The National Armaments Director will also take the opportunity to meet with his counterparts for bilateral talks at the event. In addition, the National Armaments Director will attend meetings with the Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS) on the part of the European Union.

The start-up company Pometry Ltd, domiciled in London, has been selected by the Cyber-Defence Campus of armasuisse as the winner of this year’s cyber start-up challenge. With its real-time analysis of dynamic data relationships in sectors such as finance, insurances and social networks, Pometry Ltd won over the specialist jury and defeated strong international competition. The start-up will receive an order worth up to 100,000 CHF to implement a proof of concept for its technology in the environment of the Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport DDPS.

The Swiss Residential Property Price Index (IMPI) rose in the 3rd quarter 2025 by 0.8% compared with the previous quarter and reached 124.3 points (4th quarter 2019 = 100). Compared with the same quarter of the previous year, inflation was 5.2%. These are some of the results from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

In 2025, the social partners signatory to Switzerland's main collective labour agreements (CLA) agreed a nominal rise in real wages of 1.2% and a nominal rise in minimum wages of 1%. The average real wage increase (+1.2%) comprises a 0.4% increase at individual level and a 0.9% increase at collective level. These are some of the results of the Wage Agreements Survey carried out by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

On 29 October, the Federal Council decided that Switzerland will adopt further measures from the European Union's 18th package of sanctions against Russia, as well as the EU's additional measures against Belarus. The new measures focus on trade in goods and the financial and energy sectors and will take effect on 30 October.

The state visit by President Cyril Ramaphosa is serving as an opportunity for Switzerland and South Africa to strengthen relations. On Wednesday, 29 October, five documents on future cooperation were signed. Prior to that, the South African president was received by the full Federal Council. Official talks focused on bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries at international level.

The Federal Council wants to strengthen the rights of users in the digital space and oblige very large online platforms and search engines to be more fair and transparent. A new law is to define core rules for services such as Facebook, X, TikTok or Google in law. The Federal Council decided this at its meeting on 29 October 2025. Interested parties have until 16 February 2026 to submit their views.