Swiss Abroad

Free movement protection measures under scrutiny

This content was published on Jul 6, 2011 High level European officials reiterated their concerns about the measures during meetings in Brussels with the new head of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch, on Tuesday and Wednesday. The measures aim to protect foreign workers from salary undercutting. They were introduced on June 1, 2004, to accompany the entry into force…

Swiss Politics

Tax assistance to be enshrined in law

This content was published on Jul 6, 2011 Finance Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf said the bill – for parliament to discuss – was aimed at enshrining rules on the exchange of information pertaining to account holders, as applied in double taxation agreements (DTAs) with other countries. The cabinet insists on the principle that administrative assistance will only be provided upon request in individual cases.…

Swiss Politics

Cabinet won’t act again over strong franc

This content was published on Jul 6, 2011 In its last meeting before the summer break, the cabinet reiterated that defining monetary policy is the exclusive domain of the Swiss National Bank (SNB). The government intends to continue its efforts to support the Swiss economy, but “categorically rejects all ineffective measures and ones which would be counter-productive for the Swiss economy,” it said…

Swiss Politics

Closer asylum cooperation with EU planned

This content was published on Jul 6, 2011 It adopted a motion on Wednesday to start negotiations with the EU to give Switzerland observer status at the European Asylum Support Office (EASO). The EASO was established in May 2010 to promote cooperation between EU members over questions of asylum and to offer support to states which come under particular pressure from large numbers…

Swiss Politics

Government crisis management improved

This content was published on Jul 6, 2011 But it said it was disappointed that no legal action had been taken against top members of UBS, which was bailed out by the government in 2008 and later became embroiled in a tax spat with the United States. The report by parliament’s control committees said they would have liked “more energetic action” against UBS.…

Swiss Politics

Letting Greece into euro zone was “a mistake”

This content was published on Jul 6, 2011 Wolfgang Schüssel also says Austria’s decision to join the European Union in 1995 “made perfect sense”, although he hedges his bets when asked whether Switzerland should do the same. Schüssel, who headed the Austrian government from 2000 to 2007, played down similarities between his country and Switzerland. At the same time he stressed that Brussels…

Swiss Politics

Body of newborn found in compost

This content was published on Jul 6, 2011 The baby boy was found among cut branches being delivered to the centre in Bellach in the canton of Solothurn. It is not clear whether the child was miscarried or had been born alive. A forensic science laboratory is examining the cause of death. His identity is not known and police could not find any…

Swiss Politics

Study probes Muslims’ image in Switzerland

This content was published on Jul 6, 2011 In particular the debate surrounding the national minaret vote of 2009 – in which the building of minarets was banned – was revealed to have had a negative effect. The study, part of the Religions, the State and Society programme at the Swiss National Science Foundation, examined the observation that people considered all migrants of…

Swiss Politics

Meeting high Sudanese expectations

This content was published on Jul 5, 2011 Border and trade issues, the division of oil revenues and a lack of infrastructure were just some of the problems evoked at the meeting hosted by the non-governmental swisspeace at Bern University on Monday. The Swiss special envoy to Sudan, Michael Winzap, said that northern Sudan would lose 20 per cent of its population, 25…

Swiss Politics

Teenage abortions decline

This content was published on Jul 5, 2011 The statistics come at a time of renewed discussion about abortion, with Swiss voters set to have a say over whether the women in question themselves or health insurances should pay for the procedure. In a statement on Tuesday, the Federal Statistics Office said that four per cent of abortions involved women living abroad. Of…

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Free movement protection measures under scrutiny

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Tax assistance to be enshrined in law

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Cabinet won’t act again over strong franc

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Closer asylum cooperation with EU planned

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Government crisis management improved

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Letting Greece into euro zone was “a mistake”

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Body of newborn found in compost

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Study probes Muslims’ image in Switzerland

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Meeting high Sudanese expectations

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Teenage abortions decline

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