Signals, in order.

On 25 September 2026 the Federal Council instructed the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport to draft a new standalone Federal Act on Cybersecurity by June 2027. The Act will consolidate three parliamentary motions—cyber resilience of products, protection of important digital data, and responsibilities of hosting and cloud providers—into a single piece of legislation, replacing the current reporting obligations in the Information Security Act. It will set binding requirements for manufacturers, importers, distributors, and service providers, and will align with the EU’s C…

Source: Swiss Federal Government

On 25 September 2026 the Federal Council harmonised and clarified financial provisions in four sanctions ordinances that implement United Nations sanctions on the financing of terrorism and proliferation. The amendments also extend an exemption from reporting and authorisation requirements for certain transactions under the Iran Ordinance to international organisations. The changes align with earlier clarifications made for EU‑based sanctions and focus on financial measures derived from UN Security Council resolutions.

Source: Swiss Federal Government

The Federal Council decided that the 10th meeting of the European Political Community will be held in Zurich at The Circle conference centre in April 2027, bringing together around 50 countries and several international organisations. The EPC has met twice a year since 2022, providing an informal platform for dialogue on security and competitiveness. Hosting the summit showcases Switzerland’s stability and global engagement, raising its international profile.

Source: Swiss Federal Government

The National Cybersecurity Conference in Bern on 24 September 2026 gathered about 250 representatives from politics, public administration, business and academia to discuss digital security challenges. Federal Councillor Martin Pfister called for joint efforts across sectors to strengthen protection against growing cyber threats, emphasizing that the upcoming National Cyber Strategy will rely on such collaboration. The event highlighted the need for rapid technological innovation, including AI, to keep pace with evolving threats and showcased international cooperation examples such as the joi…

Source: Swiss Federal Government

In June 2026 the EU introduced legislation distinguishing NGT1 plants, whose changes could arise naturally or via conventional breeding, from NGT2 plants with more complex modifications, shifting focus to genetic outcomes rather than methods. Switzerland’s 2025 draft Gene Technology Act adds extra control mechanisms, authorisation procedures, and labelling requirements that could disadvantage small and medium‑sized enterprises and hinder trade with the EU. The debate highlights the need for Switzerland to align its regulatory framework with the EU to support climate‑resilient crop development…

Source: ETH Zurich News

On 18 September 2026 the Federal Council approved a deployment of up to 2,000 military personnel to support the Ticino Cantonal Police during the OSCE Ministerial Council in Lugano on 3–4 December 2026. The deployment includes ground and air support, aerial surveillance, transport and logistics. A temporary restriction on airspace within a 46‑km radius of Lugano will be in force from 30 November to 4 December 2026, with air policing by the Swiss and Italian Air Forces.

Source: Swiss Federal Government

On 18 September 2026 the Federal Council approved the 2026 Security Policy Strategy, which sets out 10 objectives and 46 measures to strengthen resilience, improve resistance and protection, and enhance defence capabilities. The strategy addresses hybrid threats, cyberattacks, influence activities, and the vulnerability of critical infrastructure, and it requires cooperation between federal authorities, cantons, communes, business, academia, and civil society. Implementation is coordinated by the State Secretariat for Security Policy (SEPOS) with a steering committee, and progress will be rep…

Source: Swiss Federal Government

On 18 September 2026, the Swiss Federal Council imposed additional sanctions on Belarus, aligning with EU measures adopted on 23 April. The new measures extend export and transit bans on goods that could enhance Belarus’s military and technological capabilities, impose restrictions on the import of economically significant goods, and ban transactions involving certain cryptocurrencies and cryptoasset service providers. The sanctions also prohibit the provision of managed security services and tourism-related services to Belarus.

Source: Swiss Federal Government

On 16 September 2026, National Armaments Director Urs Loher will visit Prague to meet his Czech counterpart, General Jan Gurník, and discuss armaments policy, national security, European cooperation, and bilateral cooperation. He will also meet representatives from Czech defence companies Colt CZ Group and Czechoslovak Group (CSG) and will be accompanied by officials from the Federal Office for Defence Procurement armasuisse.

Source: Swiss Federal Government

State Secretary Markus Mäder, State Secretary for Security Policy, will travel to The Hague from 16 to 17 September 2026 for bilateral talks with senior representatives of the Dutch Ministries of Defence, Interior, and Foreign Affairs, as well as the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security. He will also meet Sabrina Dallafior, Director‑General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), to discuss the current challenges facing the Chemical Weapons Convention and the long‑standing cooperation between Switzerland and the OPCW. This will be Mäder’s first wo…

Source: Swiss Federal Government