Latest Developments in Switzerland: Thursday's Newsworthy Headlines

Emmanuel Macron, the French President, has expressed his displeasure over a recent decision by Geneva's education authorities, which he considers unilateral and discriminatory. According to the Tribune de Geneve, Macron voiced his concerns to Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter.

From 2026, children of cross-border commuters from France will no longer be able to attend Geneva schools. This decision has sparked controversy, as it could potentially limit the multilingual education that these children receive.

In a separate development, the Swiss government is preparing for the consequences of US tariffs, focusing on short-time work. Short-time work is a temporary reduction or complete suspension of work due to difficult circumstances, such as the Covid pandemic or 39-percent customs duties. The aim of short-time work is to prevent redundancies resulting from unusual events.

The Federal Council of Switzerland decided on Wednesday to support an extension of short-time work benefits. Companies affected by short-time work will receive compensation amounting to 80 percent of the lost earnings. Unemployment insurance covers companies for a certain period.

However, not all cantons in Switzerland are in agreement with this trend. The cantons of Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Uri have never implemented early French in primary school, effectively having no early French instruction. Zurich canton has recently decided in its cantonal council to abolish early French lessons in primary schools, moving the French instruction to secondary school. Twelve cantons are reportedly considering abolishing French in primary schools.

Swiss ministers have stated they are prepared to intervene if cantons do not respect the fundamental principles of Swiss language policy, in the interest of national cohesion. The Federal Council supports early exposure of school children to multilingualism.

Meanwhile, the Swiss Post resumed shipments of some packages to the US on September 4th. Gifts with a value of more than $100 (80 francs) are still not permitted for the time being. Private individuals can send gift consignments of up to $100 (equivalent to 80 francs) to private individuals in the US. However, electronic devices or electronic data carriers cannot be included in packages sent to the US. Express delivery with FedEx or Express Swiss Post remains the only option for such gifts.

In the face of these challenges, it appears that both France and Switzerland are navigating complex issues related to education and international trade. The situation remains fluid, with developments expected in the coming months.