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 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 11:05:32 +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 10:54:19 +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 15:35:20 +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 18:07:23 +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 12:32:14 +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 08:38:52 +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 10:12:13 +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 12:01:37 +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 11:36:32 +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 11:38:09 +0200 explained-eus-new-rules-on-ai-deepfakes-and-chatbots The EU/Schengen area's '90-day' rule is a complicated one that causes much confusion for travellers - here we answer some of the most common questions from readers of The Local. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230518/your-key-questions-answered-about-the-schengen-areas-90-day-rule Thu, 18 May 2023 11:19:22 +0200 your-key-questions-answered-about-the-schengen-areas-90-day-rule Several EU countries have caused a stir when they called to shut Spain out of the EU's visa-free Schengen travel zone after the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in Morocco was overwhelmed this week by thousands of migrant arrivals. Is that possible? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260731/can-an-eu-member-state-be-kicked-out-of-schengen-zone Fri, 31 Jul 2026 15:18:33 +0200 can-an-eu-member-state-be-kicked-out-of-schengen-zone The EU is expected to delay the launch of its travel authorisation scheme known as ETIAS until 2027 because of problems and delays with the rollout of the biometric EES border checks this year, according to reports. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260709/eu-set-to-delay-roll-out-of-e20-etias-travel-authorisation-scheme-until-2027 Thu, 09 Jul 2026 11:25:53 +0200 eu-set-to-delay-roll-out-of-e20-etias-travel-authorisation-scheme-until-2027 In the first six months of operation of the new EU digital border system, the Entry-Exit System (EES), more than 8,700 travellers were denied entry into Europe's border-free Schengen area because they had stayed beyond their permitted time limit. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260520/ees-7000-overstayers-snared-since-launch-of-eus-new-schengen-border-checks Wed, 20 May 2026 14:37:30 +0200 ees-7000-overstayers-snared-since-launch-of-eus-new-schengen-border-checks The European Commission is refusing to suspend strict new border controls despite pressure from airports and airlines who have demanded they be put on hold until after summer amid fears of chaos at holiday hotspots. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260708/europes-ees-border-checks-wont-be-suspended-eu-insists Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:42:33 +0200 europes-ees-border-checks-wont-be-suspended-eu-insists Starting on July 1st, the European Union will impose a €3 duty on small parcels valued at less than €150 entering the 27-nation bloc. Will Switzerland be affected by this measure as well? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260701/will-the-eus-new-customs-fee-on-small-packages-affect-switzerland Wed, 01 Jul 2026 16:40:16 +0200 will-the-eus-new-customs-fee-on-small-packages-affect-switzerland In a recent EU Council meeting, Member States called for the EU-Switzerland relationship to be updated to face modern threats and challenges, arguing the current framework risks "economic and political instability" in a changing world. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260617/switzerlands-relationship-with-eu-needs-an-overhaul-says-european-council Wed, 17 Jun 2026 13:28:01 +0200 switzerlands-relationship-with-eu-needs-an-overhaul-says-european-council A total of 154 airlines are banned in the European Union due to safety concerns, after the 2026 update of the ‘EU air safety list’ announced by the European Commission this week. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260612/which-airlines-are-banned-in-the-european-union-and-why Fri, 12 Jun 2026 12:20:05 +0200 which-airlines-are-banned-in-the-european-union-and-why Only three countries have passed into national legislation new EU pay transparency rules by the June 7th deadline, MEPs and trade unions have denounced. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260610/only-3-countries-met-deadline-for-new-eu-pay-transparency-rules Wed, 10 Jun 2026 11:12:09 +0200 only-3-countries-met-deadline-for-new-eu-pay-transparency-rules The European Commission on Tuesday asked nine countries in the Schengen area, including France, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Italy, Denmark and Norway to phase out internal border checks, which have been reinstated in some cases for years. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260602/eu-calls-on-nine-european-countries-to-scrap-internal-schengen-border-checks Tue, 02 Jun 2026 15:10:21 +0200 eu-calls-on-nine-european-countries-to-scrap-internal-schengen-border-checks