The Entry/Exit System (EES) to create bottlenecks at Swiss airports
With the EU’s biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) entering its mandatory phase on April 10th, 2026, Zurich, Geneva and EuroAirport Basel “sounded the alarm on February 12th about potential processing backlogs” as every non-EU/EFTA traveller will have to register fingerprints and a facial image at self-service kiosks.
Swiss airport officials believe that processing a fully-booked long-haul aircraft could add 50–70 minutes to the usual passport control procedure.
READ MORE: What you need to know about the start of new border checks at Swiss airports
English speakers reprimanded by Aargau police during traffic stop
According to media reports, two Dutch nationals who recently moved to canton Aargau were stopped for a traffic check.
As they answered the police officer’s questions in English, the officer reprimanded them, pointing out that "in Switzerland, people speak German, not English.”
After the motorist recounted the incident on social media, Aargau cantonal police have started an internal investigation into the traffic stop.
In the meantime, they said that language barriers are a recurring issue in everyday police work.
"Depending on the situation, it's always necessary to find a reasonable solution to enable communication," they stated.
READ MORE: Can you get by in Switzerland with just English?
And Switzerland’s best employer is…
In its new ranking, based on the feedback of 15,000 employees throughout Switzerland, the economic magazines PME and Handelszeitung, along with the Statista institute, crowned the producer of the cult Swiss drink Rivella as "best employer of 2026".
Two insurance companies - Mobiliar and Zurich- rank in the 2nd and third place, respectively.
Among other Swiss companies, Hilti took the 4th place, Zweifel the 7th, and AS Ascenseurs/Schindler, the 8th.
Two international companies, Unilever (5th place) and Microsoft (10th) are also among the best companies to work for.
READ MORE: How can we explain the Swiss obsession with the drink Rivella?
Individual trash bins to disappear from Swiss trains
Following the removal of these containers - which are located under each widow - from regional trains, the SBB will also be removing them from long-distance trains.
The double-decker FV-Dosto and IR-Dosto trains will be next.
The goal is to free up more legroom for passengers. Waste will now be deposited in large containers at the entrance to the trains.
The removal will be phased in gradually over the next two years.
If you have any questions about life in Switzerland, ideas for articles or news tips for The Local, please get in touch with us at news@thelocal.ch
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