Widows in Switzerland will no longer be entitled to lifelong pensions; cross-border shopping has gained in popularity; and more news in our roundup on Thursday.
Following court ruling, National Council overturns widows’ pension
On Wednesday, The National Council has approved a controversial reform of the first-pillar state pension (AHV/AVS), which deprives widows of lifelong pensions.
This move primarily affects childless women, who would no longer receive any pension at all. Widows with children will only be entitled to payments until the youngest child’s 25th birthday.
A transition period of three years is planned for current pensions.
The background to this measure is a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in 2022, which found that Switzerland treated widows and widowers unequally – that is, granting pensions to the former but not to the latter.
Cross-border ‘shopping tourism’ is on the rise
A study by the University of St. Gallen examined the development of Swiss shopping habits in neighbouring countries from 2022 until present, finding that it has increased by 10 percent.
Study participants cited price advantages as their main reason for shopping abroad.
From German-speaking Switzerland, Konstanz in Germany is the most popular shopping destination. For French- and Italian-speaking Swiss, it is Pontarlier in France and Como in Italy.
READ ALSO: Germany moves to make life cheaper for shoppers from Switzerland
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France leaves Basel airport without rail funding
Though it is commonly referred to as ‘Basel’ airport, the EuroAirport is located on the French territory, in the administrative commune of Saint-Louis, about 4 km from Basel.
However, despite a financing agreement to this effect between France, Switzerland, and Germany, Paris has decided to temporarily suspend its financial participation in the airport-bound rail connection.
The reason for France’s withdrawal from the construction project ,which was originally planned to begin in 2027, is the increased costs of approximately €475 million and the strained budget situation at the national and regional levels.
This decision leaves the airport – and the Basel region – without part of the funding it needs to get the train on the right track.
“The rail connection to EuroAirport is extremely important for the region. It is an urgent project, and we now have to see how it can proceed,” said Nicole Ryf, spokesperson for Basel’s Department of Construction and Transport.
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SBB introduces paperless tickets at ticket machines
Holders of a half-fare travelcard or a SwissPass long-distance travelcard can now go “paperless” on trains and buses – even without a mobile phone.
That’s because the SBB has recently updated its ticket machines, allowing customers to load their ticket directly onto the SwissPass.
According to SBB spokesperson Fabienne Thommen, this new service is particularly convenient for half-fare customers without a smartphone, as well as for children and teenagers traveling alone. Until now, the latter were required to purchase a paper ticket.
This is a transitional solution before the planned disappearance of ticket machines by 2035.
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