Swiss Abroad

Justice minister criticises Italy visa policy

This content was published on Apr 11, 2011 At a heated meeting of Schengen zone justice and interior ministers in Luxembourg on Monday, France, Germany and Austria proposed closing their borders to Tunisians in possession of the Italian visa, which allows them to cross into other Schengen countries. More than 25,000 Tunisian migrants have arrived on Italian shores since the beginning of the…

Swiss Politics

Ivory Coast’s Gbagbo surrenders

This content was published on Apr 11, 2011 The move comes after a week of heavy fighting in Abidjan, initiated by Ouattara following Gbagbo’s consistent refusals to relinquish power after losing national elections last November. The surrender and subsequent arrest came after French special forces using tanks surrounded the compound where Gbagbo has been holed up since fighting began. French officials denied initial…

Swiss Politics

Parliament meets for special session

This content was published on Apr 11, 2011 The other parliamentary chamber, the Senate, is not sitting. Among the main issues tabled are a proposal to give voters a greater say in international treaties. A committee by conservative isolationist politicians collected enough signatures to force a nationwide vote on the issue. The initiative by the Campaign for an Independent and Neutral Switzerland was…

Swiss Politics

Learning from Swiss integration failings

This content was published on Apr 9, 2011 The two countries held policy debates on the issue on consecutive days this week, commiserating and celebrating in turn their results in a British Council-led ranking of immigration policy by 31 nations. While Sweden ranked number one (again) of the Migration Integration Policy Index (Mipex), Switzerland dropped three places since the last survey in 2007…

Swiss Politics

Justice minister wants to boost migration staff

This content was published on Apr 9, 2011 Confirming media reports, an office spokesman said the increase in staff was designed to reduce pressure on cantonal authorities. The new staff would be charged with rapidly examining the growing number of asylum claims from North Africa. The decision coincides with moves by Switzerland to strengthen its diplomatic ties with Italy and Tunisia, both key…

Swiss Politics

Red Cross ship reaches Misrata

This content was published on Apr 9, 2011 The Geneva-based organisation added on Saturday that its aid workers were on the way to Zawiyah, 60 kilometres west of the Libyan capital Tripoli. “We are sending the ship to support Misrata’s main hospital, by delivering enough medical supplies to treat 300 patients with weapon injuries on the spot,” Jean-Michel Monod, head of the ICRC…

Swiss Politics

Swiss abroad get involved in electoral debate

This content was published on Apr 9, 2011 The internet platform for Swiss abroad is now looking forward to playing an active role in the debate on the federal elections later this year. The Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) looks after the interests of Swiss expatriates worldwide, who are often referred to as “the fifth Switzerland”. Since last August when it launched…

Swiss Politics

Young people come out against nuclear power

This content was published on Apr 8, 2011 Pupils organised a recent anti-nuclear demonstration on Bern’s parliamentary square and young people have also been protesting outside the Bern headquarters of BKW Energy, the company behind the Mühleberg atomic plant. Switzerland has five nuclear power stations, providing 40 per cent of the country’s electricity. Following the Fukushima accident, Energy Minister Doris Leuthard announced that…

Swiss Politics

More women want guns banned from homes

This content was published on Apr 8, 2011 The initiative, which went to a nationwide ballot in February, sought to ban army-issue guns from being kept in the home, but was rejected by 56 per cent of votes. The Vox Analysis follow-up study conducted by the political science department of Geneva University says in its assessment that the vote was backed by 51…

Swiss Politics

Expatriates angered over consular changes

This content was published on Apr 8, 2011 The assembly meeting in the town of Brunnen on Friday passed a resolution protesting against the overhaul of the network, notably in central Europe. “The visibility of Switzerland on the international stage suffers; access for the Swiss abroad and for Swiss tourists is becoming longer and more difficult,” the resolution says. Among the changes at…

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