Everything that changes in Switzerland in June 2024
From important referendums to train and road travel disruptions, these are the events and changes that are planned in Switzerland in June 2024.
June 1st: Switzerland strengthens its borders
Due to the increased threat of terrorism during the European Football Championship in Germany and the Summer Olympics in France, Switzerland is ‘temporarily increasing’ controls at its borders, the Federal Council said.
Faced with these threats, the government has decided to reinforce controls at Swiss borders from June 1st until the end of the Paralympic Games, on September 8th, 2024.
June 1st: Swisscom could drop 20,000 customers
According to media reports, the country's largest telecom operator will abandon its web hosting activity on June 1st.
"It is suggesting that affected customers switch to one of the company's subsidiaries: Localsearch, MTF Solutions, or Global IP Action,"
The latter, however, requires a 'switch' fee of 9.50 francs .
June 4th: Fighter jets on a motorway
The A1 motorway between Avenches and Payerne in canton Vaud will be closed to ‘regular’ traffic from June 4th to 6th.
That’s because F/A-18 fighter jets will be landing on, and taking off from, this section of the highway.
The reason is that the Swiss Air Force will be testing whether in case of emergencies its fighter aircraft can also be deployed from improvised locations, such as motorways.
June 9th: National referendums
The Swiss will vote on some hot-button issues in a second round of national referendums.
Two proposals aiming to curb the cost of the obligatory health insurance (KVG / LaMal) are on the ballot.
The first one calls for capping the insurance rates at 10 percent of income, with the excess be paid for by the federal and cantonal governments.
The second provides for a ‘brake’ on health costs, which should evolve according to the economy and wages.
READ ALSO: How Switzerland's two crucial health insurance referendums could impact you
Also on the ballot is a proposal titled “For the freedom of physical integrity,” launched by the STOP compulsory vaccination committee of a group called Swiss Freedom Movement.
The initiative demands "protection of the body" against interference by the state — anything from vaccinations and other medical procedures to actions involving physical contact that could impact a person’s physical and mental state.
READ ALSO: What's at stake in Switzerland's 'physical integrity' referendum on June 9th?
The fourth issue is the electricity supply.
That’s because supplying Switzerland with sufficient energy has become a challenge due to International conflicts and the restructuring of the European power grid.
Therefore, a new law sets the ground for Switzerland to rapidly produce more electricity from renewable energy sources such as water, sun, wind, and biomass.
June 9th: Geneva to weigh in on foreigners’ voting rights
Geneva residents will go to the polls to decide on an initiative launched by the trade unions and political left, calling for foreigners who have lived in the canton for at least eight years to be able to vote and stand as candidates for political offices at the cantonal level.
Foreign nationals can already vote in Geneva on municipal level, but supporters of the initiative argue that his ‘upgrade’ to the cantonal voting rights is important, because it would enable foreigners to have more political impact.
READ ALSO: Could Geneva be first Swiss canton to grant foreign residents more voting rights?
June 9th: International train disruption
From this day and for at least three months, the train service between Italian cities of Domodossola and Milan will be interrupted due to railway works, also disrupting travel between western Switzerland and Italy.
To make it easier for people from Switzerland to reach Italy during the peak summer travel, Swiss national rail company SBB is considering setting up direct buses from Geneva and Lausanne to Milan via the Grand Saint-Bernard tunnel.
“We are planning around three buses in each direction every day," the company said.
June 14th: Feminist strike
As in years past, women in Switzerland will take to the streets to highlight the gender bias that is widespread in the country, especially regarding work, wages, and childcare conditions.
This annual event began in 2017, with women in various countries, including Switzerland, rallying for equal pay, as well as other gender and trans-gender rights.
June 15th -16th: Switzerland to host high-level conference on peace in Ukraine
The summit, to be held at the Bürgenstock resort in the canton of Nidwalden, aims to establish a forum on ways to achieve a lasting peace in Ukraine, in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.
While a number of countries have already accepted an invitation from the Swiss president Viola Armherd to attend the conference, Russia said it would not be there.
June 20th: The first day of summer
Regardless of weather, June 20th marks the astronomical first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
It will last until the first day of fall, that is, September 22nd.
Throughout the month: traffic disruptions
Avoid these roads where congestion is expected to be heavier than usual:
A1
The motorway will be closed between the junctions of Gland and Coppet for nine nights between May 27th and July 11th.
The road will first be closed between 10 pm and 5 am between Nyon and Coppet (direction Geneva),and then between Nyon and Coppet (direction Lausanne).
Detours will be put in place on the secondary network.
Between Yverdon-Sud and Essert-Pittet, closure is planned from May 28th to June 4th.
And also during the nights of May 30th to June 4th, the Jura roadway will be closed off towards Lausanne, between the Yverdon Sud and Essert-Pittet junctions. Here too, detours will be clearly marked.
Gotthard tunnel
In June, the Gotthard road tunnel will be closed to traffic for a total of eight nights for maintenance work .
Nighttime closures will take place from June 17th to 21st and June 24th to 28th, from 8 pm to 5 am.
The Gotthard Pass, which remained closed at Pentecost due to heavy snowfall but was recently reopened, is among the detour routes.
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June 1st: Switzerland strengthens its borders
Due to the increased threat of terrorism during the European Football Championship in Germany and the Summer Olympics in France, Switzerland is ‘temporarily increasing’ controls at its borders, the Federal Council said.
Faced with these threats, the government has decided to reinforce controls at Swiss borders from June 1st until the end of the Paralympic Games, on September 8th, 2024.
June 1st: Swisscom could drop 20,000 customers
According to media reports, the country's largest telecom operator will abandon its web hosting activity on June 1st.
"It is suggesting that affected customers switch to one of the company's subsidiaries: Localsearch, MTF Solutions, or Global IP Action,"
The latter, however, requires a 'switch' fee of 9.50 francs .
June 4th: Fighter jets on a motorway
The A1 motorway between Avenches and Payerne in canton Vaud will be closed to ‘regular’ traffic from June 4th to 6th.
That’s because F/A-18 fighter jets will be landing on, and taking off from, this section of the highway.
The reason is that the Swiss Air Force will be testing whether in case of emergencies its fighter aircraft can also be deployed from improvised locations, such as motorways.
June 9th: National referendums
The Swiss will vote on some hot-button issues in a second round of national referendums.
Two proposals aiming to curb the cost of the obligatory health insurance (KVG / LaMal) are on the ballot.
The first one calls for capping the insurance rates at 10 percent of income, with the excess be paid for by the federal and cantonal governments.
The second provides for a ‘brake’ on health costs, which should evolve according to the economy and wages.
READ ALSO: How Switzerland's two crucial health insurance referendums could impact you
Also on the ballot is a proposal titled “For the freedom of physical integrity,” launched by the STOP compulsory vaccination committee of a group called Swiss Freedom Movement.
The initiative demands "protection of the body" against interference by the state — anything from vaccinations and other medical procedures to actions involving physical contact that could impact a person’s physical and mental state.
READ ALSO: What's at stake in Switzerland's 'physical integrity' referendum on June 9th?
The fourth issue is the electricity supply.
That’s because supplying Switzerland with sufficient energy has become a challenge due to International conflicts and the restructuring of the European power grid.
Therefore, a new law sets the ground for Switzerland to rapidly produce more electricity from renewable energy sources such as water, sun, wind, and biomass.
June 9th: Geneva to weigh in on foreigners’ voting rights
Geneva residents will go to the polls to decide on an initiative launched by the trade unions and political left, calling for foreigners who have lived in the canton for at least eight years to be able to vote and stand as candidates for political offices at the cantonal level.
Foreign nationals can already vote in Geneva on municipal level, but supporters of the initiative argue that his ‘upgrade’ to the cantonal voting rights is important, because it would enable foreigners to have more political impact.
READ ALSO: Could Geneva be first Swiss canton to grant foreign residents more voting rights?
June 9th: International train disruption
From this day and for at least three months, the train service between Italian cities of Domodossola and Milan will be interrupted due to railway works, also disrupting travel between western Switzerland and Italy.
To make it easier for people from Switzerland to reach Italy during the peak summer travel, Swiss national rail company SBB is considering setting up direct buses from Geneva and Lausanne to Milan via the Grand Saint-Bernard tunnel.
“We are planning around three buses in each direction every day," the company said.
June 14th: Feminist strike
As in years past, women in Switzerland will take to the streets to highlight the gender bias that is widespread in the country, especially regarding work, wages, and childcare conditions.
This annual event began in 2017, with women in various countries, including Switzerland, rallying for equal pay, as well as other gender and trans-gender rights.
June 15th -16th: Switzerland to host high-level conference on peace in Ukraine
The summit, to be held at the Bürgenstock resort in the canton of Nidwalden, aims to establish a forum on ways to achieve a lasting peace in Ukraine, in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.
While a number of countries have already accepted an invitation from the Swiss president Viola Armherd to attend the conference, Russia said it would not be there.
June 20th: The first day of summer
Regardless of weather, June 20th marks the astronomical first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
It will last until the first day of fall, that is, September 22nd.
Throughout the month: traffic disruptions
Avoid these roads where congestion is expected to be heavier than usual:
A1
The motorway will be closed between the junctions of Gland and Coppet for nine nights between May 27th and July 11th.
The road will first be closed between 10 pm and 5 am between Nyon and Coppet (direction Geneva),and then between Nyon and Coppet (direction Lausanne).
Detours will be put in place on the secondary network.
Between Yverdon-Sud and Essert-Pittet, closure is planned from May 28th to June 4th.
And also during the nights of May 30th to June 4th, the Jura roadway will be closed off towards Lausanne, between the Yverdon Sud and Essert-Pittet junctions. Here too, detours will be clearly marked.
Gotthard tunnel
In June, the Gotthard road tunnel will be closed to traffic for a total of eight nights for maintenance work .
Nighttime closures will take place from June 17th to 21st and June 24th to 28th, from 8 pm to 5 am.
The Gotthard Pass, which remained closed at Pentecost due to heavy snowfall but was recently reopened, is among the detour routes.
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