Cluster: Archive

Urban sprawl threatens Swiss heartland

This content was published on Jun 15, 2003 The authors of “Urbanscape Switzerland” also argue that the existing authorities are not well equipped to deal with this urban sprawl. The spread of cities into their surrounding countryside is not a new phenomenon, of course. Nor is it uniquely Swiss. But the study’s authors believe that the Swiss are still uninformed about the changes…

Museum honours Swiss kings of the road

This content was published on Jun 14, 2003 Although Saurers are no longer being built, an exhibition celebrating the famous trucks has opened in Lucerne. Exhibition curator, This Oberhänsli, says the company represents a classic story of Swiss industrial success. “Saurer was one of the first industrial products from Switzerland which made it around the world, which is something that not many Swiss…

Poised for glory

This content was published on Jun 14, 2003 Coach Köbi Kuhn spoke to swissinfo about past problems and future hopes. On Wednesday the Swiss beat Albania 3-2 in Geneva and they now lead their qualifying group by two points. Only the group winners receive automatic qualification for Euro 2004, which is being held in Portugal. swissinfo: After an eight-year absence from the European…

Government launches economic rescue package

This content was published on Jun 13, 2003 The announcement came as economists downgraded growth forecasts for 2003 to 0.3 per cent. The economic research institute, Basel Economics (BAK), said the revision was due to the continued slump in consumer spending. The latest downbeat forecast coincided with the launch on Friday of a new programme, dubbed “InnoNation Switzerland”, aimed at boosting innovation. “We…

Imitation goods threaten Swiss producers

This content was published on Jun 13, 2003 They say imitation products are threatening livelihoods and undermining hard-won reputations. Swiss producers added their voice to a chorus of similar complaints by manufacturers from around the world at a conference in Geneva this week. The aim of the meeting was to highlight the problems faced by makers of specialised and regional goods, such as…

Social security spending continues to rise

This content was published on Jun 13, 2003 This was up six per cent – or SFr7 billion – on the previous year, with the lion’s share swallowed by the state pension scheme. The figures from the Federal Statistics Office show that Swiss spending on social security is now in line with member countries of the European Union (EU). In 2001 the bill…

Rural Alpine regions pin their hopes on tourism

This content was published on Jun 13, 2003 At a recent meeting in Willisau, various federal offices and public organisations announced new measures to promote sustainable development in rural mountain areas. “If you don’t have the Matterhorn to sell, you have to be creative,” Jürg Schmid of Switzerland Tourism told the gathering of tourism, agriculture and economics experts. Schmid went on to add…

Switzerland cracks down on cartels

This content was published on Jun 12, 2003 The legislation will give the Competition Commission greater power to fine companies which are found guilty of rigging prices and blocking competition. “The new law will give the Commission the possibility to impose sanctions against cartels immediately upon realising that they have violated the law,” Walter Stoffel, president of the Competition Commission, told swissinfo. Thursday’s…

Parliament rejects GM crop moratorium

This content was published on Jun 12, 2003 The issue is now expected to be put to a nationwide vote. The House of Representatives followed the lead of the Senate which said “no” to a moratorium last week, as part of a revision of the country’s law on agriculture. This was the second time the House had voted on the issue, having previously…

Gruyère cheese receives seal of approval

This content was published on Jun 12, 2003 “The official registration of the Gruyère appellation d’origine will stand out as one of the important dates in the long history of this cheese,” Manfred Boetsch, the director of the office told a news conference. The announcement comes three years after four western cantons which produce Gruyère – Fribourg, Vaud, Neuchatel and Jura – requested…

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Cluster: Archive

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Urban sprawl threatens Swiss heartland

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Museum honours Swiss kings of the road

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Poised for glory

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Government launches economic rescue package

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Imitation goods threaten Swiss producers

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Social security spending continues to rise

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Rural Alpine regions pin their hopes on tourism

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Switzerland cracks down on cartels

More

Parliament rejects GM crop moratorium

More

Gruyère cheese receives seal of approval

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