Swiss Abroad

Swiss gain from EU fears over open borders

This content was published on Feb 4, 2004 Swiss negotiators won concessions on Wednesday after some EU states said that they wanted delays in allowing freedom of movement to new EU nationals. The agreement means that citizens from the ten new EU member states will have to wait a few years more before all work and residency restrictions are lifted. Dieter Grossen, chief…

Swiss Politics

Swiss communes merge in struggle to survive

This content was published on Feb 4, 2004 Many have begun merging with one another in their struggle to muster the funds and the qualified staff necessary for survival. Last year, a municipality in canton Thurgau published a series of adverts in the national press as part of its search for a mayor, after no local candidates applied for the post. Many communes…

Swiss Politics

Foreigners in Vaud flex their voting muscle

This content was published on Feb 2, 2004 Pro-integration campaigners hope the move will spark a nationwide trend towards giving non-Swiss a greater say in politics. “When foreigners don’t have a voice, the political decisions taken are not as creative or representative and tend to be based on prejudices,” said Ron Halbright of the National Coalition Building Institute’s Zurich chapter. “I hope that…

Swiss Politics

Swiss fail to break deadlock over EU bilaterals

This content was published on Feb 2, 2004 But the European Commission also says it will not make any more concessions to Switzerland on the main sticking points. Calmy-Rey met the European Commission president, Romano Prodi, and EU Commissioner, Chris Patten, in Brussels on Monday. Patten said after the meeting that a number of thorny issues remained to be resolved, including closer security…

Swiss Politics

Government admits defeat in Sunday’s votes

This content was published on Jan 29, 2004 Voters turned down plans to ease traffic congestion and to change the law on rents, but voted in favour of a people’s initiative to lock up violent offenders for life. The Swiss president, Joseph Deiss, said that both the people and the cantons had given an unambiguous thumbs down to the government and parliament in…

Swiss Politics

Davos forum ends on upbeat note

This content was published on Jan 26, 2004 And, as the mountain resort returns to normal, most will be wondering whether the meeting has achieved any concrete results. “The mood is more important than the facts,” said Philippe Bourguignon, the WEF’s co-chief executive officer. “The facts may be extremely difficult to face, but if you face them in a good psychological environment, you…

Swiss Politics

Price watchdog comes under pressure

This content was published on Jan 23, 2004 But the price watchdog is very popular in pricey Switzerland, the only European country to have the office enshrined in the constitution. The watchdog’s boss, Werner Marti, is quitting to join the race for leadership of the centre-left Social Democratic Party. He is angry with the rightwing Swiss People’s Party, which launched a people’s initiative…

Swiss Politics

World Social Forum wraps up in Mumbai

This content was published on Jan 21, 2004 The world’s biggest anti-globalisation gathering was attended by some 100,000 people from 132 countries, including Switzerland. The 50-strong Swiss delegation was made up of parliamentarians, trade unionists and members of non-governmental organisations (NGOs). “I was impressed by the human aspect of the forum,” said Bernard Fragnière, president of the Swiss NGO, E-Changer. “It was a…

Swiss Politics

Deiss opens Davos with call for trade talks

This content was published on Jan 21, 2004 Welcoming more than 2,100 participants to the Swiss mountain resort, Deiss also called for greater global efforts to prevent conflicts. “I appeal to the representatives of the business community to assume their share of social and ethical responsibility,” he said. Deiss, who is Switzerland’s economics minister, formally launched a drive to inject new life into…

Swiss Politics

Davos welcomes annual talkfest

This content was published on Jan 21, 2004 The Swiss government is hoping to use the five-day forum to resurrect stalled world trade negotiations. The economics minister and current Swiss president, Joseph Deiss, is due to host a crisis meeting on Friday involving around 20 trade ministers, plus Supachai Panitchpakdi, director-general of the World Trade Organization. Talks at the WTO’s ministerial conference in…

Swiss Abroad

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Swiss Abroad

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Swiss gain from EU fears over open borders

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Swiss communes merge in struggle to survive

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Foreigners in Vaud flex their voting muscle

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Swiss fail to break deadlock over EU bilaterals

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Government admits defeat in Sunday’s votes

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Davos forum ends on upbeat note

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Price watchdog comes under pressure

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World Social Forum wraps up in Mumbai

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Deiss opens Davos with call for trade talks

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Davos welcomes annual talkfest

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