June 2024: Important Information for Expats Living in Switzerland

June 2024 will be busy in Switzerland, with important events and changes happening. Here’s what you need to know:

1. Swiss Parliament’s Summer Session
• The summer session started on May 27 and will be in full swing in June.
• Lawmakers will debate military spending, austerity measures, and Switzerland’s response to a climate ruling by the European Court of Human Rights.

2. Fighter Jets to Land on A1 Motorway
• On June 5, the Swiss military will land fighter jets on the A1 motorway between Payerne and Avenches.
• The motorway will be closed to traffic from June 4 to 6, causing significant traffic disruptions.

3. Swiss Voting on June 9
• On June 9, Swiss citizens will vote on four federal referendums, including a plan to cap health insurance costs to 10% of a person’s salary.
• Other issues include linking health insurance premiums to salaries, energy policy reforms, and healthcare integrity.

4. Geneva Expats Voting Rights
• Geneva will vote on allowing long-term international residents to vote in cantonal elections and stand for office if they have lived there for more than eight years.
• Results are expected by June 10.

5. Train Disruptions Between Switzerland and Milan
• Starting June 9, train services between Switzerland and Milan will be disrupted due to construction.
• Travelers will need to take a train to Domodossola and then a replacement bus to Milan, adding at least an hour to travel times.

6. Women’s Strike on June 14
• On June 14, people across Switzerland will march for equal pay, a minimum wage, flexible working hours, publicly-funded childcare, and a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual harassment and violence.
• The strike also focuses on the increase of the retirement age for women to 65.

7. Ukraine Peace Summit on June 15
• Switzerland will host a summit on June 15 to discuss peace in Ukraine.
• 70 states and groups, including India, Germany, and the EU, have accepted invitations. Russia was not invited.

8. First Day of Summer and School Holidays
• June 20 marks the start of summer and the beginning of school holidays in several Swiss cantons.
• There are no public holidays in June, and Canton Jura’s Independence Day on June 23 falls on a Sunday this year.

9. Pride Month in Switzerland
• June is Pride Month, with many LGBTQ+ events.
• The Zurich Pride Festival on June 14 and 15 will be a major highlight.

10. Switzerland in the European Football Championships
• The UEFA European Football Championships start in Germany on June 14.
• Switzerland’s first game is against Hungary in Cologne on June 15, with other group games against Scotland on June 19 and Germany on June 23.
• The Swiss Cup final between Servette of Geneva and Lugano will take place in Bern on June 2.