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The Federal Council regularly submits to Parliament development programmes aimed at extending the road, rail and urban traffic networks. In early 2025 the Federal Council launched the Transport ’45 project. This seeks to coordinate transport infrastructure developments and set them in order of priority out to 2045 and beyond. The planned construction work was put out for consultation in June 2026 and the various projects will be presented to Parliament in early 2027. The Swiss Federal Audit Office has examined whether the projects under Transport ’45 have been put in a logical order of priority. It welcomes the principle of, for the first time ever, examining and presenting inter-departmental development projects and reconsidering old projects. However, the SFAO notes major weaknesses: the essential foundations for establishing a logical and sensible order of priority are lacking, especially as regards new developments. The SFAO informed the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) and the Federal Council of these weaknesses before the consultation opened. The SFAO called for the project to be halted until the key issues have been resolved. The call by the SFAO went unheeded.

Face aux changements géopolitiques et à leurs conséquences sur le multilatéralisme, la Genève internationale fait preuve de résilience. Les mesures urgentes engagées en 2025 par la Confédération, le Canton et la Ville de Genève portent leurs fruits : aucune organisation internationale n’a quitté la Suisse et deux nouvelles entités se sont installées à Genève ces derniers mois. Si une perte d’emplois dans le secteur international est à déplorer, elle reste moins importante que redouté. Les autorités hôtes renforcent leur collaboration pour consolider cette dynamique.

The Federal Tax Administration has published FATCA group requests pursuant to Article 12 paragraph 1 FATCA Act.

On 19 September 2026, Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter will attend the informal meeting of the EU's Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) in Ireland. The purpose of the meeting is to promote exchanges on international financial and tax issues.

On 14 and 15 September, Federal Councillor Albert Rösti will attend the 70th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, which runs until 18 September. As head of DETEC and Minister for Energy, he will represent Switzerland at the highest level.

Of the approximately 90 000 first upper secondary qualifications awarded each year, 12% are completed by adults aged 25 or over, who number nearly 11 000. Five years before receiving their qualification, only 60% had earned an income from employment, and this group is over-represented among households with a low net equivalised income from employment (27%). Five years after obtaining their qualification, their situation had improved markedly: their income was close to that of the general population of the same age (CHF 5 200 per month), their employment rate stood at 80%, and they were, overall, under-represented among households with a low equivalent net income (17%). These are the main findings of a new publication from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

The Producer and Import Price Index rose in August 2026 by 0.7% compared with the previous month, reaching 100.4 points (December 2025 = 100). In particular, petroleum products, chemical products, and petroleum and natural gas saw higher prices. Compared with August 2025, the price level of the whole range of domestic and imported products fell by 0.7%. These are the results of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

The International Space Summit, convened at the initiative of President Emmanuel Macron, was held in Paris on 9 and 10 September. High-level representatives from government, science, business, the military and civil society discussed shared visions and approaches to key issues raised by the growth in space activities. Switzerland was represented by State Secretary Martina Hirayama.

In August 2026 the consumer sentiment index stood at –33 points. This is 7 points higher than in August 2025. The following sub-indices are higher than in August 2025: economic outlook and past financial situation. The following sub-indices are lower than a year ago: financial outlook and moment to make major purchases.

Switzerland numbered a record 70 000 cultural organisations in 2024. This is 27% more than in 2011. By way of comparison, the number of enterprises in the economy as a whole grew by 16% in the same period. Nevertheless, the number of jobs in the cultural sector fell in 2024, as did the size of cultural organisations. These are some of the new findings from the Cultural Economy Statistics of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

The 32nd Economic and Environmental Forum focuses on how the anticipation of technological developments and the strengthening of science-based diplomacy can contribute to security and stability across the OSCE area. The aim is to support participating States in better preparing for current and emerging challenges.

Speech by State Secretary Alexandre Fasel at the OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum in Prague. Check against delivery