Cluster: Swiss Abroad

Swiss find Italian support for EU accords

This content was published on Sep 8, 2003 The Italian foreign minister, Franco Frattini, told his Swiss counterpart, Micheline Calmy-Rey, that the accords were likely to be discussed at an upcoming EU ministerial conference. Frattini said the Italian government – which currently holds the rotating EU presidency – was in favour of speeding up negotiations with Switzerland. Calmy-Rey was in Rome on the…

Swiss Politics

Rightwing says EU is key election issue

This content was published on Sep 8, 2003 But political analysts believe the People’s Party is simply exploiting rival parties’ inconsistency on EU membership to win seats. “The general elections are European elections,” Ueli Maurer, president of the People’s Party, said on Monday. Swiss voters overwhelmingly turned down an initiative in March 2001, which called for immediate talks on membership to the EU.…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland enters second year as UN member

This content was published on Sep 7, 2003 swissinfo spoke to the Swiss ambassador to the UN, Jenö Staehelin, about Switzerland’s first year of membership. Swiss voters approved joining the UN in 2002 after a hard fought campaign, with opponents arguing that membership would threaten Switzerland’s neutrality. Staehelin gives his views on the issue of Swiss neutrality, as well as the organisation’s involvement…

Swiss Politics

Rightwing holds lead in election countdown

This content was published on Sep 6, 2003 A sizeable minority of the electorate – 30 per cent – would like to see a redistribution of the cabinet seats in favour of the People’s Party. The results of the latest poll, carried out by the Bern-based GfS research institute, give the People’s Party a 26 per cent share of the vote – the…

Swiss Politics

Swiss press for conclusion of EU accords

This content was published on Sep 4, 2003 Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Austria’s foreign minister, told her Swiss counterpart, Micheline Calmy-Rey, that Vienna was in favour of the accords being treated as one package rather than separately. The two ministers met in the Austrian capital on Thursday, the first stop of a five-day European tour by the Swiss foreign minister. Switzerland is pressing European Union…

Swiss Politics

Cantons threaten referendum over budget cuts

This content was published on Sep 4, 2003 Some of them are threatening to call a cantonal referendum – a democratic instrument that has existed since 1874 but never been used – to stop it becoming law. As part of the 2001 fiscal package, which was approved by parliament in June, cantons stand to lose over SFr500 million in revenue under Switzerland’s complicated…

Swiss Politics

EU tops agenda in Couchepin’s Portugal visit

This content was published on Sep 2, 2003 Sampaio told Couchepin he could count on Portugal’s support during the second round of negotiations on bilateral agreements between Switzerland and the EU. Switzerland hopes to clinch a second set of bilateral deals with the EU by the end of next year. Relations between Switzerland and Portugal are said to be good. Bern came to…

Swiss Politics

Disabled get new voice in Basel

This content was published on Sep 1, 2003 Martin Haug says his role is to advise the disabled of their rights, inform the public and hopefully serve as a model for the rest of the country. One of his jobs is to work with the city authorities to ensure public buildings across Basel offer better access to the disabled. Three months ago the…

Swiss Politics

Swiss abroad air concerns

This content was published on Aug 30, 2003 The Swiss president, Pascal Couchepin, told delegates Switzerland had to carve out more of a role for itself on the international stage. In his address, Couchepin said Switzerland could improve its image around the world – and especially among the young. “Switzerland enjoys a generally good reputation worldwide and joining the United Nations was certainly…

Expatriates focus on Switzerland’s financial role

This content was published on Aug 29, 2003 The 81st congress of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) also serves as a platform for other issues concerning Swiss expatriates. More than 500 people are expected to attend the three-day meeting, but OSA director Rudolf Wyder is disappointed the figure is not higher. “This year’s attendance won’t break any records,” he told swissinfo,…

Cluster: Swiss Abroad

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