Entry bans into Switzerland are on the rise; voters will decide if government should export arms; and more news in our roundup this Monday.
Entry bans into Switzerland are on the rise
The Federal Police (Fedpol) issued 614 entry bans into Switzerland in 2025 – four times the number issued in 2024 – due to information exchanges with the EU regarding suspected jihadists.
This increase is primarily attributable to data provided by Europol – Fedpol’s European counterpart – concerning members of the Islamic State (ISIS) group currently residing abroad but who could potentially target Switzerland.
Not all of these individuals had actually attempted to enter the country. But since the terrorist threat in Switzerland is deemed “elevated,” and there is also a notable trend toward the radicalisation of increasingly younger people, authorities are unwilling to take any risks and have therefore issued entry bans.
Swiss voters will decide if government should export arms
In 2025, the Parliament voted to ease the War Materials Act, so that Switzerland can export arms to a specific group of 25 Western nations, even if they are involved in international conflicts, as long as they don’t violate human rights.
At the same time, however, it explicitly prohibits the supply of weapons to Ukraine, even though it is under attack by Russia.
In response, a large left-wing alliance has submitted a referendum on Friday against this move.
Supporters argue that more lenient rules are intended to benefit the arms industry, but they could pave the way for Swiss-made weapons to end up in the hands of war-mongering regimes.
Basel to crack down on public pool misconduct
Last year, there were repeated disturbances in Basel’s public pools – 28 bans were issued primarily against rowdy youths from the communities in neighbouring France and Germany.
With the beginning of the 2026 pool season planned for the end of April, the canton intends to crack down on the troublemakers.
Concretely, anyone who violates the swimming pool rules will be swiftly expelled. Disruptive guests will first receive a warning, followed by a ban if the behaviour continues. In cases of serious or repeated violations, a ban of up to one year is also possible.
Additionally, more security personnel will be deployed on days with high visitor numbers.
Lake’s international borders need to be clearly defined
Three countries – Switzerland, Germany, and Austria – share Lake Constance but no clear border among them exists, making it impossible to determine who owns what.
While this is not a concern for shoreline areas, the situation is different in the deep waters, where the question of sovereignty remains unresolved.
This may not seem like a huge problem for the three Schengen states, but it does create a bureaucratic headache – for instance, determining fishing rights, drinking water supply and, in the event of a maritime emergency, which country should assume responsibility for rescue coordination.
Though negotiations are currently under way to establish a framework for the shared border, this is not all smooth sailing: as Swiss media reported this weekend, parties cannot agree on how exactly to divide the lake three ways.
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