Switzerland: History

1815 In the wake of the Napoleonic wars, Switzerland's borders and neutrality are established at the Congress of Vienna.

1923 Switzerland and Liechtenstein form a customs union, which establishes a common economic and currency area.

1959

Switzerland becomes a founding member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

1992

Switzerland joins the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), but rejects membership of the European Economic Area.

1998

Swiss banks agree to $1.25bn compensation deal with Holocaust survivors and families.

2002 Switzerland officially becomes a member of the United Nations.

2005

A referendum vote approves opening the Swiss job market to workers from the 10 newest European Union countries.

2011 The government announces that the Swiss franc will be pegged to the euro, after Swiss manufacturers warn that the currency's strength is making exports uncompetitive.

2011

The government announces that the Swiss franc will now be pegged to the euro.

2012

The government re-imposes immigration quotas on workers from central and eastern European Union countries.

2015 Steep depreciation of the euro prompts the Swiss National Bank to abruptly terminate the pegging of the franc to the euro. This move causes the franc to soar, prompting warnings of severe damage to Switzerland's struggling tourism and export sectors.

2016

Voters in a referendum reject a proposal to introduce an unconditional basic income.

2017

Voters in a referendum approve plans to phase out nuclear energy. 

2018

Voters in a referendum reject a proposal to abolish the mandatory license fee for public broadcasting.