Proposal to shorten the wait time for Swiss citizenship is set for a February referendum; government approves new strategy to combat summer heatwaves and drought; and more news in our Thursday roundup.
Proposal to shorten the wait time for Swiss citizenship to be voted on in February
The Federal Council released on Thursday the list of five items on the ballot in the first round of 2027 referendums, on February 28th.
Among them is the controversial bid to shorten the length of residency time from ten to five years before foreigners can apply for naturalisation in Switzerland.
After the Parliament overwhelmingly refused to back this initiative, it will be up to voters to decide what happens next.
READ MORE: What’s the plan to cut residency periods for Swiss citizenship?
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Swiss government approves new strategy to combat heatwaves and drought
After record-breaking temperatures and extreme drought that hit Switzerland during the summer of 2026, the government vowed to look into measures to mitigate these effects of climate change.
On Wednesday, the Federal Council set out objectives and defined key measures aimed at limiting the risks associated with climate change in Switzerland.
Furthermore, it “reached decisions concerning heat monitoring and the protection of human and animal health,” the government said. “The objective is to enhance the adaptive capacity of the environment, society, and the economy.”
Switzerland could pay a lot for EU’s plan to deport migrants
Brussels is seeking to strengthen and expand activities of the EU’s border management agency Frontex and its role in the deportation of migrants – a reform that could come at a high price for Switzerland.
That’s because expanding Frontex – for instance, by hiring new border guards and putting other preventive measures in place – means that Switzerland’s financial contribution to the scheme, which stands at 61 million francs for 2027, could well double.
Though not in the EU, Switzerland, as member of the Schengen area, is part of the Frontex scheme as well, and must participate in measures the agency implements.
Uber Eats is driving local bicycle couriers out of business
In a contentious battle for dominance, Uber Eats has largely conquered Switzerland’s food delivery market, replacing many local providers in the process.
These local competitors are subject to regulatory requirements that the US-based Uber Eats reportedly manages to circumvent.
“Over the past five years, we have faced fierce competition from large, global corporations. Not all of them play by the rules,” Jérôme Thiriet, president of the national association of cycle couriers, told SRF broadcaster on Wednesday.
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