Switzerland: Automated Driving to Be Allowed Starting in 2025
In its session on December 13, 2024, the Swiss government (Bundesrat) adopted an ordinance on automated driving (Verordnung über das automatisierte Fahren, VAF). The ordinance specifies the implementation of amendments to the Road Traffic Act (Strassenverkehrsgesetz, SVG) approved by the Swiss Parliament in 2023. It allows transferring driving tasks to an autopilot while driving on … Continue reading “Switzerland: Automated Driving to Be Allowed…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2024-12-19
Article
Switzerland: Video and Phone Conferencing to be Allowed in Civil Proceedings
On October 16, 2024, the Swiss government decided to adopt an ordinance permitting courts to conduct civil proceedings through video and telephone conferencing.The Federal Council reviewed the results of the consultation on the “Ordinance on the Use of Electronic Means for Audio and Video Transmission in Civil Proceedings” (Verordnung über den Einsatz elektronischer Mittel zur … Continue reading “Switzerland: Video and Phone Conferencing to…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2024-10-23
Article
Switzerland: Federal Supreme Court Denies Father’s Right to Appeal Non-Prosecution of Alleged Illegal Abortion
On June 26, 2024, the Swiss Federal Supreme Court (Bundesgericht, BGer) held that the father of a fetus was not entitled to enforce his former partner’s prosecution for an allegedly illegal abortion, because he was neither the holder himself of a protected legal interest harmed by a crime, nor was he the relative of a … Continue reading “Switzerland: Federal Supreme Court Denies Father’s…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2024-08-11
Article
United States: Court Upholds Penalties for Hiding Taxable Income in Foreign Bank Accounts
On April 23, 2024, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld $500,000 in penalties against two Swiss citizens who filed tax returns while residing in the United States without disclosing several millions of dollars in taxable income deposited in Swiss bank accounts. (Lamprecht v. Comm’r, no. 22-1308 (D.C. Cir. Apr. … Continue reading “United States: Court Upholds Penalties for…
Contributor:
Zarin, Jason
Date:2024-06-04
Article
Switzerland: European Court of Human Rights Finds Switzerland Failed to Implement Regulations to Combat Climate Change
On April 9, 2024, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) delivered a landmark decision, ruling that the Swiss Confederation had failed to comply with its duties under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) concerning climate change. It ruled that the Swiss state’s inactions violated article 8 (right to respect … Continue reading “Switzerland: European Court of Human Rights…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2024-05-14
Article
Switzerland: Government Proposes Taxation of Telework of Cross-Border Commuters
In its session on March 1, 2024, the Swiss Federal Council, the country’s government, introduced a bill to tax telework performed by cross-border commuters. Double taxation treaties generally provide that income from employment is taxed in the country in which it is physically performed. However, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, more people perform their work … Continue reading “Switzerland: Government Proposes Taxation of Telework…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2024-04-16
Article
Switzerland: European Court of Human Rights Finds Swiss Police Guilty of Racial Profiling
On February 20, 2024, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) held unanimously that the Swiss police had discriminated on the basis of race when performing an identity check on the applicant at the Zurich railway station. Furthermore, the ECtHR found that no effective remedy had been available to the applicant in the Swiss domestic … Continue reading “Switzerland: European Court of Human Rights…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2024-03-05
Article
United States: Circuit Court Affirms District Court’s Decision in Contract Dispute over Ukrainian Stolen Assets
On November 27, 2023, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed the decision of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts to dismiss all breach of contract claims brought by Universal Trading & Investment Company, Inc. (UTICo) against several Ukrainian defendants. The First Circuit also affirmed the District … Continue reading “United States: Circuit Court Affirms District…
Contributor:
Friedman, Sarah
Date:2024-01-01
Article
Switzerland: Voters Approve Law Codifying Net Zero Target by 2050
On June 18, 2023, Swiss voters approved by a vote of 59.07% to 40.93% the Climate and Innovation Act (Klima- und Innovationsgesetz, KIG). The act codifies a net zero target — “cutting greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible” — by 2050. Voter turnout was 42.54%. The act does not introduce new … Continue reading “Switzerland: Voters Approve Law Codifying Net…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2023-07-06
Article
Switzerland: Ethical Rules Declared Binding to Prevent Violence in Sports
In its session on January 25, 2023, the Swiss Federal Council (Bundesrat), the country’s government, amended the Sports Promotion Ordinance (Sportförderungsverordnung, SpoFöV) to obligate sports organizations to adhere to previously voluntary ethical rules to receive government funding. In particular, sports organizations must take measures to prevent violations of duties contained in the Charter for Ethics … Continue reading “Switzerland: Ethical Rules Declared Binding to…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2023-03-05
Article
Germany: Federal Court of Justice Holds ‘Stealthing’ Punishable as Sexual Assault
In a decision published on February 1, 2023, the German Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof, BGH) held that the act of “stealthing” is punishable as sexual assault in accordance with section 177, paragraph 1 of the German Criminal Code (Strafgesetzbuch, StGB). The court defines “stealthing” as “having sexual intercourse without a condom contrary to the … Continue reading “Germany: Federal Court of Justice Holds…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2023-03-02
Article
Liechtenstein: Voters Reject Proposed Casino Ban
On January 29, 2023, voters in Liechtenstein rejected by a vote of 73.3% to 26.7% an amendment to the Liechtenstein Constitution (Verfassung) that would have prohibited the operation of casinos. All existing casinos would have been obligated to close, at the latest, within five years of the amendment entering into force. Voter turnout was 70%, … Continue reading “Liechtenstein: Voters Reject Proposed Casino Ban”
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2023-02-21
Article
Switzerland: Voters in Canton of Vaud Overwhelmingly Approve Act on Palliative Care and Assisted Suicide in Assisted Living Facilities
On November 27, 2022, Swiss voters in the Canton of Vaud approved by a vote of a 76.55% to 23.45% the Act on Palliative Care and Framework for Assisted Suicide in Institutions and Facilities (Gesetz über die Palliative Care und die Rahmenbedingungen für Beihilfe zum Suizid in Institutionen und Einrichtungen, GPCBSIE). The GPCBSIE promotes supporting … Continue reading “Switzerland: Voters in Canton of Vaud…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2023-01-03
Article
Switzerland: Financial Markets Regulator Clarifies Reporting Threshold for Virtual Currency Transactions
On November 2, 2022, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (Eidgenössische Finanzmarktaufsicht, FINMA) published a partially revised FINMA Anti-Money Laundering Ordinance (FINMA AML Ordinance) (Geldwäschereiverordnung-FINMA, GwV-FINMA). The revised FINMA AML Ordinance clarifies, among other things, that the reporting threshold of 1,000 Swiss francs (about US$1,060) for virtual currency transactions applies for linked transactions within 30 … Continue reading “Switzerland: Financial Markets Regulator Clarifies Reporting…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2022-12-28
Article
Switzerland: City of Lugano and El Salvador Sign Memorandum of Understanding on Bitcoin
On October 27, 2022, the city of Lugano, Switzerland, and the government of El Salvador signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on economic cooperation in the area of Bitcoin and blockchain technologies. The cooperation is part of the Lugano Plan B project, which aims to increase the acceptance of Bitcoin and stablecoins in Lugano and … Continue reading “Switzerland: City of Lugano and El…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2022-12-13
Article
Switzerland: Government Proposes Creation of Register of Beneficial Owners to Combat Money Laundering
In its session on October 12, 2022, the Swiss Federal Council (government) instructed the Federal Department of Finance (FDF) to draft a bill on creating a register of beneficial owners of certain designated companies by the end of June 2023 to increase transparency and combat money laundering. The register would be nonpublic and available only … Continue reading “Switzerland: Government Proposes Creation of Register…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2022-11-21
Article
Switzerland: Federal Criminal Court Denies Mutual Legal Assistance to Russia due to Ukraine Invasion
In a decision published on October 3, 2022, the Swiss Federal Criminal Court (FCC) (Bundesstrafgericht, BStGer) held that Russia is not entitled to mutual legal assistance in criminal matters due its invasion of Ukraine, which the court ruled a serious violation of international law. As a consequence, it ordered the sequestration of the appellant’s bank … Continue reading “Switzerland: Federal Criminal Court Denies Mutual…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2022-10-11
Article
Switzerland: Paid Parental Leave of Two Weeks for Adoptions Available Starting 2023
Starting January 1, 2023, Swiss parents who adopt a child younger than four years old will be able to take two weeks of paid parental leave. The Swiss Federal Council, the country’s government, decided in its session on August 24, 2022, that an amendment to the Loss of Earnings Compensation Act (Erwerbsersatzgesetz, EOG) would take … Continue reading “Switzerland: Paid Parental Leave of Two…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2022-09-22
Article
European Union: Council Suspends Visa Facilitation Agreement with Russia
On September 9, 2022, the Council of the European Union, the co-legislator of the European Union (EU), decided to fully suspend its visa facilitation agreement with Russia. The agreement had been partially suspended on February 25, 2022, in response to Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine. The decision will apply as of September 12, 2022. (Decision … Continue reading “European Union: Council Suspends Visa Facilitation…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2022-09-20
Article
Switzerland: New Legislation on E-Voting Trials Enters into Force
On July 1, 2022, revisions to the Ordinance on Political Rights (PoRO) (Verordnung über die politischen Rechte, VPR) and a completely revised Ordinance of the Federal Chancellery on Electronic Voting (OEV) (Verordnung der Bundeskanzlei über die elektronische Stimmabgabe, VEleS) entered into force in Switzerland. They amend the legal requirements for electronic voting (e-voting) trials and … Continue reading “Switzerland: New Legislation on E-Voting Trials…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2022-08-04
Article
Switzerland: Federal Supreme Court Holds ‘Stealthing’ Not Punishable as Sexual Act with Persons Incapable of Judgement or Resistance
On May 11, 2022, the Swiss Federal Supreme Court (Bundesgericht, BG) held in case 6B_34/2020 and case 6B_265/2020 that the act of “stealthing” does not fall under the offense of “sexual acts with persons incapable of judgement or resistance” according to article 191 of the Swiss Criminal Code (Schweizerisches Strafgesetzbuch, StGB). “Stealthing” means the “removal … Continue reading “Switzerland: Federal Supreme Court Holds ‘Stealthing’…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2022-07-13
Article
Switzerland: Voters in Canton of Zurich Approve Constitutional Amendment Codifying Net Zero Target
On May 15, 2022, Swiss voters in the canton of Zurich approved a constitutional amendment codifying a target to achieve net zero, meaning “cutting greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible.” The vote was 67.12%–32.88%, with voter turnout at 45.21%. The specific year by which net zero must be achieved will be … Continue reading “Switzerland: Voters in Canton of Zurich…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2022-06-02
Article
Switzerland: Government Adopts Ordinance to Ensure Adequate Natural Gas Supply During Ukraine Crisis
In its session on May 18, 2022, the Swiss Federal Council (government) adopted an ordinance to prevent a looming natural gas shortage resulting from the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. The National Economic Supply Act (NESA) (Landesversorgungsgesetz, LVG), which the ordinance is based on, allows the government to take preparatory measures to ensure the … Continue reading “Switzerland: Government Adopts Ordinance to Ensure…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2022-05-30
Article
Switzerland: Voters Overwhelmingly Approve Opt-Out System for Organ Donations
On May 15, 2021, Swiss voters approved by a vote of 60.20%–39.80% an amendment to the Swiss Transplantation Act. The amendment replaced the current explicit opt-in rule for organ donations (consent solution) with an opt-out rule (presumed consent solution). The presumed consent solution assumes that a person wishes to donate unless they have made a … Continue reading “Switzerland: Voters Overwhelmingly Approve Opt-Out System…
Contributor:
Gesley, Jenny
Date:2022-05-25
Article
Switzerland: Government Starts Consultation on Climate-Related Financial Disclosure Ordinance
On March 30, 2022, the Swiss Federal Council (government) started a consultation on an ordinance on climate-related financial disclosures for large Swiss companies. The ordinance specifies and standardizes existing disclosure duties of nonfinancial matters codified in the Swiss Code of Obligations and is a binding implementation of the recommendations of the Financial Stability Board’s Task … Continue reading “Switzerland: Government Starts Consultation on Climate-Related…
