News

The Federal Council is responding to the dramatic situation in Haiti. On 28 January, it took the decision to join the EU sanctions aimed at curbing gang violence. This extends the existing Ordinance on measures concerning Haiti. The new measures come into force at 11pm on 28 January.

At its meeting on 28 January, the Federal Council adopted its Anti-Corruption Strategy 2026–29. The strategy sets priorities for fighting corruption in areas of the Federal Administration that are particularly exposed and present an increased risk, and for reducing the vulnerability of Swiss businesses to corruption abroad. The strategy is mainly intended for the Federal Administration but also for target groups outside the Federal Administration.

On 28 January, the Federal Council appointed Professor Tanja Zimmermann to a further four-year term as director of the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa). This term will run from 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2030.

Financial support should also be provided for subscription and foundation publications when they are delivered by private providers. Currently, this only applies when they are delivered by Swiss Post. At its meeting on 28 January 2026, the Federal Council initiated the consultation procedure on the partial revision of the Postal Services Act.

At its meeting on 28 January, the Federal Council approved the deployment of the Armed Forces in a supporting role to assist the civilian authorities with security measures during the G7 summit to be held in Évian-les-Bains, France, from 15 to 17 June. This deployment, which is subsidiary in nature, complements the security measures put in place by the civilian authorities. Parliament will vote on the deployment at its next session in March.

At its meeting on 28 January, the Federal Council confirmed Switzerland's intention to organise a summit on artificial intelligence (AI) in Geneva in 2027. A final decision will be taken at the next AI summit in Delhi in February.

The Federal Council is committed to better protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) persons against hate crimes and violence. To this end, it adopted the first National Action Plan at its meeting on 28 January 2026. The plan has three scopes of action: support and protection for victims, prevention of hate crime, and monitoring acts of violence.

Switzerland takes note of the fifth report of the Investigation and Identification Team of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which was mandated to identify the perpetrators of chemical weapons use in Kafr Zita in the Hama Governorate of Syria on 1 October 2016. Switzerland condemns the use of chemical weapons in the strongest terms and calls for those responsible to be held accountable.

Bern, 27.01.2026 - On 26 January 2026, the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER amended the annex of the ordinance on measures concerning Guatemala. The entries concerning five individuals were modified. These measures will come into force on 27 January 2026 at 11 p.m.

A new final report (aviation) is available on the website of the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board STSB.

Message from the President of the Swiss Confederation on International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The FireDrone is designed to deliver real-time data from high-risk areas that are too dangerous for humans and conventional drones. Developed at Empa and continued as a spin-off, the new generation of drones combines heat-resistant materials with practical robotics – for firefighting operations and industrial inspections involving extreme temperatures.