Meeting of the Council of the Swiss Abroad 2026, 20–22 August in Brunnen

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September 2026. Meeting report by Roland Isler & Carmen Trochsler

More than 90 Delegates of the worldwide Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA) travelled to Brunnen, in the heart of Switzerland on the shores of Lake Lucerne, to take part in this year’s SwissCommunity Days, organised by the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA).

Australia was represented by Carmen Trochsler (Adelaide), also member of the OSA Board; Roland Isler (Melbourne); Beat Knoblauch (Sydney); and, for the first time, Johannes le Coutre (Sydney), who deputised for Barbara Zingg (Broome).

Images: Auslandschweizerorganisation and own

Thursday: Workshop

On Thursday afternoon, Council delegates took part in two workshops linked to the OSA’s 2025–2029 legislative goals, focusing on the SwissCommunity platform and fundraising.

The first explored how to strengthen the platform’s value and engagement with Swiss Abroad, while the second considered opportunities to increase the OSA’s own-source funding by creating value for companies and individual supporters and exploring potential new revenue streams.

Friday: Meeting of the Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA)

The meeting on Friday covered a range of issues affecting the approximately 800,000 Swiss citizens living abroad.

The discussions highlighted several developments that will shape the experience of Swiss citizens living abroad in the coming years. E-voting and digital consular services have the potential to make maintaining a connection with Switzerland significantly easier, while the ageing Swiss Abroad population, increasing international mobility and engagement with younger generations require increasing attention.

At the same time, the political recognition of the Swiss Abroad remains important. Better data on their economic and societal contribution, together with a review of the legal framework, could help to demonstrate more clearly the important role played by the Fifth Switzerland.

(E-)Voting: More Cantons are joining

The reintroduction of e-voting is progressing. The Federal Chancellery provided an update on the project. Following the interruption between 2019 and 2022, work on reintroducing e-voting has resumed. Further cantons, including Lucerne and Neuchâtel, have now joined the system.

Around 65% of Swiss Abroad would prefer to vote electronically if the option is available. For more than 15% of Swiss Abroad, e-voting is effectively the only practical way to exercise their political rights, given their location and the limitations of postal voting. The new Swiss e-ID will play a role in further developments. Security remains the highest priority. At present, there is no satisfactory technical solution for around 2% of voters. An evaluation will be carried out by 2028, after which a decision will be made on whether e-voting should become part of the regular voting system.

For Swiss citizens living in Australia, e-voting is particularly important. The geographical distance from Switzerland and long postal delivery times can make traditional postal voting difficult. If you are registered in the cantons who have joined the e-voting trial go here for more information. Practical tips around voting can be found on our FAQ page.

Digitalisation of Consular Services: Marianne Jenni, Director of the Consular Directorate, provided an update on the development of a digital hub for consular services. Towards the end of 2027, a new electronic service counter is expected to provide access to a range of services, including updating an address. Access will also be available through the SwissInTouch app. The aim is to make consular services more accessible and efficient for Swiss citizens abroad.

The FDFA’s engagement with the Swiss community in Australia will continue beyond the meeting. The Swiss Alliance Australia looks forward to welcoming Marianne Jenni to Australia in November, when she will participate in the Oceania Swiss Club Presidents’ Conference 2026 in Brisbane.

ETIAS - Important for Dual Citizens

ETIAS Marianne Jenni from the FDFA informed that the introduction of ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) has been postponed to 2027. Monitoring the exact start date will be particularly relevant for Swiss dual citizens who currently do not hold a valid Swiss passport, as Swiss citizens must enter Switzerland and the Schengen Area using a valid Swiss passport.

As highlighted in our March meeting report, residents in Australia will be affected by these changes. We therefore recommend that dual citizens continue to monitor developments and ensure that they have a valid Swiss passport if planning travel to the Schengen Area, including Switzerland. Further information is available on the official ETIAS website.

Reaching the Younger Generation

Greater attention is being given to young Swiss citizens living abroad. At the age of 18, young Swiss Abroad are encouraged to register with a Swiss representation. With increasing international mobility, more young Swiss citizens are likely to grow up, study or work outside Switzerland, making it increasingly important to maintain their connection with Switzerland from an early age.

The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) has launched a dedicated website for young Swiss citizens living abroad, providing information and resources specifically tailored to their needs.

During the meeting, we had some great conversations with representatives of the Youth Parliament of the Swiss Abroad (YPSA). They have been active in organising initiatives and events aimed at engaging younger Swiss Abroad. To strengthen this connection with young Swiss citizens in Australia, we will share relevant Youth Parliament events and information through our own communication channels in Australia.

Webinars for Swiss Abroad

OSA and FDFA continue to organise webinars on practical topics for Swiss citizens living abroad. Upcoming webinars include:

15 September 2026: Retirement provision and pensions abroad
17 November 2026: Services and opportunities for young Swiss Abroad

These webinars provide an opportunity for Swiss Abroad to obtain information directly from relevant experts and institutions, regardless of where they live.

It is worth noting, that approximately one quarter of Swiss citizens living abroad are already of retirement age. The issue of ageing abroad is therefore becoming increasingly important. More information is available here.

Parliamentary Developments Relevant to the Swiss Abroad

Several parliamentary initiatives are currently addressing issues that directly or indirectly affect Swiss citizens living abroad:

Health insurance: National Councillor Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter has proposed allowing Swiss Abroad to voluntarily retain Swiss health insurance while living overseas. The initiative builds on work by CSA Delegate Josef Schnyder from Thailand and, among other objectives, seeks to reduce so-called “medical tourism” to Switzerland and potentially relieve pressure on the Swiss healthcare system.
Swiss Abroad Act: Council of States member Carlo Sommaruga has called for a review of the Swiss Abroad Act, in force since 2015, to assess whether it continues to meet the needs of today's Swiss Abroad.
Military service and dual nationals: National Councillor Pascal Schmid has submitted an initiative addressing military service obligations for dual Swiss nationals who have already completed military service abroad.
Bilateral Agreements III: The agreements were signed on 2 March 2026 and are now before Parliament. A nationwide vote is expected no earlier than 2028, with entry into force possible from 2029 at the earliest.

Making the Contribution of the Swiss Abroad More Visible

Another important discussion focused on whether the economic and societal value of the Swiss Abroad could be quantified. The FDFA currently considers it difficult to quantify the overall added value of the Swiss Abroad, particularly because their contribution extends beyond purely financial factors.

A potential study could nevertheless examine both financial contributions and savings generated by Swiss citizens living abroad. Areas mentioned included withholding tax, property-related taxes, tourism expenditure and savings resulting from benefits that are not claimed in Switzerland.

There was agreement that a meaningful assessment would require an independent university or research institution.

Validation of Oceania representation

The Council validated the election of Esther Gilbert as New Zealand’s new delegate and Johannes le Coutre as Deputy Delegate for Australia. We congratulate them both and look forward to working together in representing the Swiss community across our region.

Strengthening Internal Collaboration and Clear Objectives

Several delegates called for clearer, measurable objectives for the current legislative period. It was agreed that the existing goals will be complemented with measurable criteria by November 2026.

OSA President Filippo Lombardi emphasised the importance of constructive cooperation and mutual respect. He also highlighted the increased workload and staffing changes within the OSA Secretariat. The Executive subsequently received the support of the Council, with three delegates, including Roland Isler, taking the floor to explicitly express their confidence in it.

The discussion underscored the value of further strengthening transparent processes and constructive collaboration between the Executive, Secretariat and CSA as the organisation moves forward.

Swiss Abroad Congress 2027 in Lausanne – Save the date

The Congress of the Swiss Abroad will take place from 20–22 August 2027 at the EHL Hospitality Business School Lausanne. The Congress is open to everyone, and with the event now taking place only every four years, it will be a special opportunity to bring Swiss Abroad from around the world together.

We would love to see some familiar faces from Australia there! In previous years, Congress participants have also benefited from a 75% discount on the Swiss Travel Pass. We hope the same will happen next year – it's a fantastic opportunity to combine the Congress with some travel around Switzerland.

If you are planning to be in Switzerland next August, save the date - more details will follow.

Saturday: 35 years Place of the Swiss Abroad

On Saturday, 22 August, Council delegates enjoyed a boat trip on Lake Lucerne, providing an opportunity to relax and connect before gathering at the Place of the Swiss Abroad (Auslandschweizerplatz) to mark its 35th anniversary.

The site was officially opened on 1 August 1991 as part of celebrations marking the 700th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation. It remains a physical symbol of the ties between Switzerland and its global community of more than 800,000 Swiss nationals living abroad.

The anniversary was celebrated with alphorns, a flag-raising ceremony and a drinks reception attended by Council delegates and numerous dignitaries.

The next time the Council of the Swiss Abroad gathers will be online on 28th November and then again in Berne on 18th to 19th March 2027 (hybrid meeting).

For the Australian Delegates, Roland Isler and Carmen Trochsler