Swiss supermarkets have no plans to sell US meat; new EU agreement would grant higher compensation to Swiss air passengers; and more news in our roundup this Wednesday.
Swiss supermarkets have no plans to sell meat imposed by the US
Switzerland and the United States had concluded a new lower-tariff agreement; under its terms, Switzerland will, in addition to other obligations, have to import 500 tonnes of beef, 1,000 tonnes of bison meat, and 1,500 tonnes of (chlorinated) poultry.
But does this mean that supermarkets will offer this imported meat to the detriment of Swiss products?
Migros said it will continue to “prioritise local meat as much as possible,” so the new agreement with the United States will have no impact on its product range.
According to Coop, its priority also “remains Swiss meat.”
The discount chains Lidl and Aldi show little interest in US meat, as does Migros subsidiary, Denner.
New EU agreement would grant higher compensation to Swiss passengers
Swiss citizens have been disadvantaged for years when it comes to compensation for delayed flights.
For example, if a flight to the USA is delayed by more than five hours, an EU passenger receives €600 in compensation, while Swiss passengers are entitled to nothing.
However, if the package concluded between Bern and Brussels in December 2024 is approved, Swiss passengers would be treated – in terms of compensation – the same their as EU counterparts.
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Government intervention reduces housing supply and increases rents
A new study by the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) shows that government intervention in the housing market leads to higher rents and a tighter housing supply.
Due to these strict regulations – for instance, environmental laws which regulate the level of noise allowed in housing projects – fewer units are being built, which not only exacerbates the existing shortages, but is also causing rents to rise, especially for people looking for a new apartment.
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And on the same subject…
Affordable housing remains scarce in Switzerland
According to Swiss Association for Housing and Urban Development, the housing shortage in Switzerland is worsening with the national vacancy rate a low 1.0 percent.
Especially in cities, rents have risen significantly, pushing apartment seekers from urban centres to suburbs and rural areas.
In central locations, rent increases after renovations average 50 percent. But rents also rise significantly in urban areas (+23 percent) and rural regions (+15 percent).
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And now…The ‘worst rated’ Swiss soup
The culinary portal TasteAtlas has named the 100 worst European dishes. Among them is an authentic Swiss hay soup.
Traditionally, this soup was eaten in alpine huts, especially during haymaking season. The freshly harvested hay was steeped in a broth to impart its distinctive meadow aroma.
It is made of cream, wine, herbs, and spices.
“Many people claim that the soup is an acquired taste,” the magazine writes. “You are first hit with a slight sweetness, then creaminess, and finally, a slightly sour flavour in the mouth.”
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