EU regions want to strengthen ties with neighbouring Swiss cantons; consumers increasingly turn to imported chocolate and cheese; and more news in our Thursday roundup.
Certain EU regions want to collaborate more with Swiss cantons
EU regions want to further strengthen their cooperation with bordering Swiss cantons.
They unanimously approved a position to this effect on Wednesday in Brussels, calling for the “strengthening the territorial dimension of relations between the EU and Switzerland.”
This move aims to intensify relations in border regions, because Swiss cantons and neighbouring European regions often face similar challenges – infrastructure issues like roads, traffic, and public transport among them.
Swiss consumers are increasingly turning to foreign products – even chocolate and cheese
While in 2000, only one in five chocolate bars sold in Switzerland came from abroad, imported chocolate now accounts for nearly 40 percent of the assortment in some supermatkets.
Industry association Chocosuisse attributes this development to the arrival of discounters offering imported products at low prices, international brands flooding the Swiss market, and online platforms facilitating access to foreign products that are often cheaper.
The situation is similar for another ‘Swiss’ product: cheese.
While in 2007, nearly 77 percent of all cheeses sold in the country were Swiss, they accounted for only around two-thirds in 2021.
In fact, in 2023, Switzerland imported more cheese than it exported, for the first time ever.
READ ALSO: Why do the Swiss prefer to buy foreign cheese?
Advertisement
Travel news: Condor strengthens Swiss connections in the upcoming winter flight schedule
For the start of the 2025/2026 winter season, which begins at the end go October and lasts until the end of March, German leisure airline Condor is further expanding its offerings for travellers from Switzerland.
The three daily flights from Zurich to Frankfurt will ensure optimal connections to popular holiday destinations.
This will allow passengers to benefit from short transfer times to numerous long-haul destinations in the Condor route network – such as the Caribbean, North America, and Africa, as well as popular winter destinations in Southern Europe.
“Condor attaches great importance to good connections from Switzerland. The flight times are coordinated so that travellers can depart from Zurich in the morning and reach the Canary Islands on the same day, says Thomas Welti, Country Manager for Switzerland.
For example, the first flight departs daily at 8:05 a.m. from Zurich, with connections in Frankfurt to Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife South, and Hurghada.
READ ALSO: Zurich airport could lose long-haul flights in Swiss airline shake-up
If you have any questions about life in Switzerland, ideas for articles or news tips for The Local, please get in touch with us at news@thelocal.ch
