News

In July 2026 the consumer sentiment index stood at –35 points. This is 2 points lower than in July 2025. The following sub-indices are lower than in July 2025: past financial situation, financial outlook and moment to make major purchases. The following sub-index has barely changed compared to July 2025: economic outlook.

To produce and use green hydrogen more efficiently, better materials are needed – such as robust membranes made of special ceramics that can absorb and conduct protons. An international research team led by Empa aims to shed light on the fundamentals of proton transport in such materials using new methods. The project is supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) as part of the External Lead Agency program.

The head of the FDFA was in Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan from 3 to 5 August 2026 for official talks with the foreign ministers of both countries. He also met with President Serdar Berdimuhamedow of Turkmenistan and visited the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat. A second trip to the region is planned for October 2026, to Armenia and Georgia.

Type 2 diabetes generates high healthcare costs in Switzerland and causes significant suffering for those affected. A multidisciplinary Innosuisse Flagship project led by Empa aims to use artificial intelligence (AI), innovative digital sensors, and new business models to facilitate the prevention of this widespread disease.

The Armed Forces' global logistics concept (GK A Log) is the Swiss Armed Forces' strategic framework for transforming its logistics into a combat-ready, decentralised and resilient deployment logistics system. It regulates stockpiling, protection, medical services, infrastructure and collaboration civil partners, to ensure that the Armed Forces can maintain operations for a longer period in an emergency. The SFAO's main focus was on whether the global concept is sufficiently mature to allow concrete measures to be formulated across all logistics levels and trigger their implementation. It considers that, essentially, the developed concept is sufficiently mature to allow the measures derived from it to be integrated into the Defence Group's ordinary process and developed further in that setting. However, key questions are still pending.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell by 0.1% in July 2026 compared with the previous month to 101.1 points (December 2025 = 100). Inflation was +0.4% compared with the same month of the previous year. These are the results of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

Address by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) at Swiss National Day in Avenches – Check against delivery.

Ansprache von Bundespräsident Guy Parmelin Vorsteher des Eidgenössischen Departements für Wirtschaft, Bildung und Forschung (WBF) anlässlich des Nationalfeiertags 2026 Rütliwiese, Samstag, 1. August 2026

Address by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) at Swiss National Day in Düdingen – Check against delivery.

The UN sanctions committee has amended the list of sanctioned individuals, companies and organizations. The SESAM database has been updated accordingly. On 4 March 2016 the Federal Council has adopted the Ordinance on the automatic application of the UN Security Council’s sanctions lists. Hence, the amendments of the UN Security Council’s sanctions lists enter into force in Switzerland without delay.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will visit Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan from 3 to 5 August 2026. The head of the FDFA will hold official talks with the authorities of both countries at which he will particularly address bilateral relations. In his capacity as chairman-in-office of the OSCE he will also discuss the priorities of the Swiss chairpersonship in the current geopolitical context.

On 30 July 2026 in Vienna, Switzerland and Austria signed a protocol amending the agreement for the avoidance of double taxation (DTA) with respect to taxes on income and capital. The protocol implements the minimum standards set out in the agreement for double taxation and makes specific adjustments to the DTA to bring it into line with the changing needs of the contracting states since the last revision, which was carried out under the 2009 protocol of amendment.