https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed An agreement set to be announced at the upcoming EU-UK summit could mark the return of pet passports allowing easier travel across the Channel for holidaymakers with dogs, cats and ferrets. https://www.thelocal.ch/20261104/pet-passports-set-to-be-restored-between-the-eu-and-the-uk Wed, 04 Nov 2026 17:02:06 +0100 pet-passports-set-to-be-restored-between-the-eu-and-the-uk The regulation, which will go into effect on January 11th, 2027, is set to restrict the access of European customers to Swiss banks. https://www.thelocal.ch/20261103/does-the-new-eu-banking-rule-affect-switzerland Tue, 03 Nov 2026 12:29:46 +0100 does-the-new-eu-banking-rule-affect-switzerland Leaders of the EU and the UK will meet for a crucial summit in November with a move towards closer cooperation on the table. But how much will be achieved given the differences and disagreements that exist? https://www.thelocal.ch/20261031/a-lot-of-arguing-to-be-done-whats-at-stake-in-the-upcoming-eu-uk-summit Sat, 31 Oct 2026 10:36:08 +0100 a-lot-of-arguing-to-be-done-whats-at-stake-in-the-upcoming-eu-uk-summit The European Union and Canada are set to announce on Friday a new strategic alliance that will include more opportunities for Canadians and Europeans to live and study and work on the opposite side of the Atlantic. https://www.thelocal.ch/20261029/europeans-and-canadians-set-to-get-more-opportunities-to-move-across-atlantic Thu, 29 Oct 2026 21:09:48 +0100 europeans-and-canadians-set-to-get-more-opportunities-to-move-across-atlantic Some 44 members of the European Parliament from 15 different EU countries and six political groups have called on EU transport ministers to break the deadlock and get the plan to end the seasonal changing of the clocks moving again. https://www.thelocal.ch/20261021/meps-urge-eu-ministers-to-act-and-bring-end-to-seasonal-clock-changes Wed, 21 Oct 2026 15:44:53 +0200 meps-urge-eu-ministers-to-act-and-bring-end-to-seasonal-clock-changes Generally speaking, EU and EFTA nationals (the latter consisting of Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein), have an almost unlimited access to Swiss work and residency permits. But are there any exceptions? https://www.thelocal.ch/20230609/just-how-freely-can-eu-citizens-move-to-and-within-switzerland Fri, 09 Jun 2023 13:59:54 +0200 just-how-freely-can-eu-citizens-move-to-and-within-switzerland Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Monday that Britain's current relationship with the European Union was "not good enough", as officials confirmed a UK-EU summit will take place on November 20th. https://www.thelocal.ch/20261012/status-quo-not-good-enough-uk-and-eu-set-new-date-for-key-summit Mon, 12 Oct 2026 20:58:09 +0200 status-quo-not-good-enough-uk-and-eu-set-new-date-for-key-summit Ireland, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, suggested Saturday slashing the bloc's next proposed budget by 140 billion euros ($155 billion), in a quest to bridge deep divisions and reach a deal by the end of the year. https://www.thelocal.ch/20261011/proposed-eu-budget-cut-back-in-search-for-christmas-deal Sun, 11 Oct 2026 19:17:41 +0200 proposed-eu-budget-cut-back-in-search-for-christmas-deal After a rollercoaster decade since the Brexit vote, the idea of the UK rejoining is still only a distant prospect and the European Union is waiting first to see what London wants next. https://www.thelocal.ch/20261001/we-wont-change-approach-eu-wants-actions-from-uk-rather-than-words Thu, 01 Oct 2026 17:42:49 +0200 we-wont-change-approach-eu-wants-actions-from-uk-rather-than-words Andy Burnham put the idea of Britain rejoining the EU on the table Wednesday, breaking a taboo for a UK prime minister and leading French President Emmanuel Macron to declare in English "Welcome back". https://www.thelocal.ch/20260930/rejoining-the-eu-is-among-options-for-future-ties-says-uk-prime-minister Wed, 30 Sep 2026 12:45:17 +0200 rejoining-the-eu-is-among-options-for-future-ties-says-uk-prime-minister New legislation proposed by the European Commission this week seeks to make the recognition of professional qualifications easier for non-EU citizens, a common complaint of many who've moved to the bloc from abroad. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260919/eu-proposes-new-rules-for-recognition-of-qualifications-from-non-eu-citizens Sat, 19 Sep 2026 13:05:32 +0200 eu-proposes-new-rules-for-recognition-of-qualifications-from-non-eu-citizens International headlines have been made this week by the EU and Canada announcing their mutual intention to form a deeper relationship. Mandy Pipher, The Local's resident Canadian, examines whether her compatriots would actually accept tighter ties with Europe. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260919/opinion-do-canadians-really-want-closer-ties-with-europe Sat, 19 Sep 2026 12:54:19 +0200 opinion-do-canadians-really-want-closer-ties-with-europe Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney shrugged off a threat of US retaliation on Thursday as he pitched a "new alliance" with Europe as a bulwark against outside pressures, in a closely watched speech to the European Parliament. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260917/canadas-pm-carney-pushes-new-alliance-with-eu-despite-trump-threats Thu, 17 Sep 2026 17:35:20 +0200 canadas-pm-carney-pushes-new-alliance-with-eu-despite-trump-threats The European Commission is planning a revision of Schengen rules on short-stay visas to make the EU’s visa policy "more coherent, secure and effective, while facilitating legitimate travel". https://www.thelocal.ch/20260914/eu-commission-mulls-revision-of-schengen-visa-rules-and-fees Mon, 14 Sep 2026 20:07:23 +0200 eu-commission-mulls-revision-of-schengen-visa-rules-and-fees European Union countries issued a total of 3.9 million new residence permits to non-EU citizens in 2025, a 10 percent increase compared to 2024, and the “highest level” since records began, according to new data. But which countries issue the most? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260914/revealed-number-of-residency-permits-issued-in-europe-reaches-record-high Mon, 14 Sep 2026 14:32:14 +0200 revealed-number-of-residency-permits-issued-in-europe-reaches-record-high Cities across Europe will gain more leeway to curb short-term rentals such as Airbnb under plans to bring down housing costs in tourism hotspots that the European Union is to unveil Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260905/eu-to-help-cities-clamp-down-on-tourist-rentals Sat, 05 Sep 2026 10:38:52 +0200 eu-to-help-cities-clamp-down-on-tourist-rentals The European Union put on a brave face on Sunday in response to the Icelandic vote against resuming EU accession negotiations, but the result is no doubt a big blow to Brussels and a boon for eurosceptics. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260831/warning-to-europe-how-icelands-no-vote-is-a-blow-to-the-eu Mon, 31 Aug 2026 12:12:13 +0200 warning-to-europe-how-icelands-no-vote-is-a-blow-to-the-eu Iceland voted 'No' to resuming membership negotiations with the European Union, final referendum results showed Sunday, dealing a heavy blow to Brussels which had been keen to welcome a new wealthy member. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260830/iceland-votes-no-to-resuming-eu-talks Sun, 30 Aug 2026 14:01:37 +0200 iceland-votes-no-to-resuming-eu-talks With countries across Europe reintroducing police checks at internal borders with neighbouring states there has been renewed attention on how the borderless Schengen area works and how it's linked to the EU"s free movement principle. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260828/whats-the-difference-between-schengen-and-eu-free-movement-rules Fri, 28 Aug 2026 13:36:32 +0200 whats-the-difference-between-schengen-and-eu-free-movement-rules AI watermarking and deepfake labelling will soon be required by law in the EU as the transparency part of the bloc’s sweeping AI Act comes into force on August 2nd. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260727/explained-eus-new-rules-on-ai-deepfakes-and-chatbots Mon, 27 Jul 2026 13:38:09 +0200 explained-eus-new-rules-on-ai-deepfakes-and-chatbots