News

On 4 June 2026, the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) has amended annex 2 of the ordinance on measures against Sudan. Seven individuals have been added to the annex. The measures come into force on 5 June 2026 at 11 p.m.

Switzerland is to provide USD 70 million in support of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG). The Federal Council took this decision at its meeting on 5 June. PIDG mobilises private sector capital to develop sustainable basic infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa and South and Southeast Asia.

On 5 June, the Federal Council discussed the next steps regarding the US Trade Representative’s Section 301 investigations. The Federal Council strongly rejects the allegations raised in the investigation into imports of goods produced with forced labour and will set out its arguments in writing once again. At the same time, trade negotiations are continuing.

At its meeting on 5 June 2026, the Federal Council adopted a revision of the Ordinance on Fees in the Field of Statistics, including a comprehensive update of the rules governing services provided by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) and other producers of federal statistics.

Switzerland is expected to contribute around CHF 323 million by 2027 to the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI), part of the Schengen states' Integrated Border Management Fund. As this figure is slightly higher than originally planned, the Federal Council referred a dispatch to Parliament on 5 June to this effect. In return, Switzerland will receive additional funding for measures of its own. The BMVI enables countries at the EU's external borders in particular to strengthen their border management and visa procedures.

At its meeting on 5 June 2026, the Federal Council decided to provide CHF 25 million in funding to the global research partnership CGIAR for the 2026–27 period. CGIAR conducts agricultural research to strengthen global food security and receives funding in the context of Switzerland's international cooperation work, thereby reinforcing the country's position as a centre for research.

To ensure security at the G7 summit, which is being hosted by France in Évian from 15 to 17 June, the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) and the French Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans’ Affairs have drawn up a Joint Procedural Document (JPD). This document sets out the framework for military cooperation between Switzerland and France during the summit. Its purpose is to ensure the smooth running of any joint activities, particularly on Lake Geneva and in the airspace, thereby contributing to security. The Federal Council approved it at its meeting on 5 June. The Federal Council approved it at its meeting on 5 June, adding to the measures taken in preparation for the summit.

Thirty years after joining the International Organisation of La Francophonie (IOF), Switzerland has reaffirmed its commitment to the organisation at a time of increasing geopolitical polarisation and financial constraints. At a meeting in Bern with the secretary general of the IOF, Louise Mushikiwabo, federal councillors Ignazio Cassis and Elisabeth Baume-Schneider stressed the need to support a useful and effective IOF, while continuing to invest in diversity in language and culture. In particular, they stressed the importance of language learning as a vector for dialogue and mutual understanding, and highlighted the challenges of digital governance.

In 2025, Swiss Post had ensured that at least 96.1% of the population in all cantons had access to payment services, thereby significantly exceeding the legal threshold of 90%. The Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) concludes that Swiss Post has fully complied with its universal service mandate regarding payment transactions.

Today, the Swiss Science Council SSC published its evaluation report on Innosuisse’s funding portfolio. The evaluation concludes that Innosuisse fulfils its statutory mandate and has a coherent funding portfolio. At the same time, the SSC identifies potential for targeted further development – amongst others in the involvement of implementation partners and in access to risk and equity capital.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.2% in May 2026 compared with the previous month, reaching 101.3 points (December 2025 = 100). Inflation was +0.6% compared with the same month of the previous year. These are the results of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

Safe and sustainable from the outset – how exactly would you ensure that? Empa researchers are applying the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework to the 2D material graphene. This is not just a matter of understanding the risks that graphene poses to humans and the environment. The focus is also on the SSbD framework itself and its applicability in practice.