Swiss government examines the feasibility of immigration tax; border checks to be introduced during the G7 summit; and more news in our roundup on Thursday.
Swiss government examines the feasibility of immigration tax
The ministers have analysed a report on three models for an immigration tax – an ‘entry fee’ that foreign nationals would have to pay if they settle in Switzerland.
The only option considered feasible without amending the Constitution would be to introduce an incentive-based tax, the revenue from which would be redistributed to the population and the economy, the Federal Council said on Wednesday.
However, applying this tax to nationals of EU and EFTA member states “would be contrary” to the terms of the free movement of people agreement that Switzerland concluded with the European Union.
The report, commissioned by the Parliament after the Swiss People’s Party raised the idea in 2023, “does not identify any demonstrable economic benefits” of this measure, the Federal Council concluded.
Additionally, “the introduction of an immigration tax would face numerous legal obstacles,” it added.
Swiss government to introduce border checks during the G7 summit in France
The summit will take place from June 15th to June 17th in Evian, France.
As the town is located only 45 km from Geneva, the Federal Council announced on Wednesday that temporary controls at the border between the two countries will be introduced between June 10th and 19th.
“Although the summit is taking place in France, the cities of Geneva and Lausanne, as well as the entire Lake Geneva region, are exposed to security risks,” the Federal Council said.
It added that border checks are needed because “previous G7 summits have been marred by violent clashes, disruptions, acts of sabotage, and property damage.”
Government issues a list of five potential dangers threatening Switzerland
There is “a significant deterioration in the security situation in Switzerland and Europe,” the Federal Council said in a press release on Wednesday.
The top-five risks it considers to be the most serious are:
- Threat of terrorism, which “continues to be dominated by the jihadist movement.”
- Violent extremism, from both left and right, “is still active.”
- The threat of espionage against Switzerland “is very high.”
- Russia, which “has developed complex strategies to circumvent sanctions and procure Swiss goods and technologies.”
- “Critical infrastructure is threatened by physical attacks and cyberattacks.”
Zermatt has more foreign nationals than Swiss
The famous Alpine resort town located at the foot of the Matterhorn is considered around the world as quintessentially Swiss.
In fact, it is more international than other Swiss municipalities – with 2,883 foreign residents, their number exceeds that of Swiss citizens (2,748).
That is because the vast majority of people employed in the resort’s service industries come from abroad.
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