Swiss Abroad

Parliament calls halt to EU agriculture talks

This content was published on Mar 7, 2012 A broad alliance of members from centre-right parties as well as the centre-left in the Senate on Wednesday followed the House of Representatives to demand a freeze of talks launched in 2008 with Brussels. They said opening the agriculture market to the EU would have a disastrous impact on Swiss farmers struggling to survive against…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland puzzled by Brussels warning

This content was published on Mar 6, 2012 In a letter sent on Monday, EU taxation commissioner Algirdas Semeta stressed that the 27 member states “should refrain from negotiating, initialling or ratifying agreements with Switzerland” if some of the countries’ provisions interfere with EU legislation. “The letter is not addressed to us, and I do not know what Semeta’s intention was,” Widmer-Schlumpf told…

Swiss Politics

Cluster bomb ban wins parliament’s approval

This content was published on Mar 6, 2012 But non-governmental groups criticised its failure to include effective ways to combat opaque funding schemes, while conservatives argued that the impact on Switzerland’s defence capability is unclear. Following a second round of debate, the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in favour of the convention on cluster munitions, despite opposition by some members of the right-wing…

Swiss Politics

Lump-sum taxation for wealthy foreigners to stay

This content was published on Mar 6, 2012 Tax will be set on the basis of seven times the annual rental value of their residence, instead of five. For those living in a hotel, it will be the equivalent of three times their annual boarding and food costs instead of two. For example, a person who would pay a rent of SFr60,000 ($65,397)…

Swiss Politics

Tamils demonstrate in Geneva

This content was published on Mar 5, 2012 The Tamils, who had come from all over Europe, marched from the station to the United Nations headquarters, carrying the flags of Tamil Eelam, Britain and France. They also had placards calling for self-determination. Tamil Eelam is the name given by Sri Lankan Tamils to the state they wish to create in the northern and…

Putin election leaves Swiss press cold

This content was published on Mar 5, 2012 Putin will be returning to head the state for what could be another 12 years, after a first stint between 2000 and 2008, and editorialists believe his leadership style will be a recipe for economic failure. Two exit polls on Sunday showed Putin with 58-59 per cent of the vote, and incomplete results showed him…

Swiss Politics

Naturalisation vote raises emotions

This content was published on Mar 2, 2012 A Swiss passport is already one of the toughest to obtain in industrialised countries, but if the rightwing Swiss People’s Party has its way, it will become even tougher. “People with a criminal background shouldn’t be able to be naturalised – you should only gain Swiss citizenship if you have a spotless record,” Hans Heinrich…

Swiss Politics

Aid convoy arrives in Homs to news of executions

This content was published on Mar 2, 2012 But a spokesman for the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross, Saleh Dabbakeh, said the convoy of seven trucks was carrying food, medicines, baby milk and other essential items had been unable to enter the Bab Amr neighbourhood on Friday for security reasons. The news came as a spokesman for the United Nations Human…

Swiss Politics

Government outlines foreign policy priorities

This content was published on Mar 2, 2012 Releasing a report on the strategic axes of Swiss foreign policy for 2012-2015 for consultation by parliamentary, the government identified four key areas of attention which it said aimed to defend Switzerland’s independence, prosperity and security. “Both the developments taking place in our neighbouring vicinity and the global challenges that go beyond national boundaries, have…

Swiss Politics

Young “sans-papiers” to access apprenticeships

This content was published on Mar 2, 2012 The government said on Friday that providing they respected the law, had completed five years of schooling in Switzerland and spoke a national language, young people without residence permits should be eligible for professional apprenticeships. “Young people without papers generally find themselves in an irregular visa situation after having followed their parents to Switzerland,” the…

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Swiss Abroad

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Parliament calls halt to EU agriculture talks

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Switzerland puzzled by Brussels warning

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Cluster bomb ban wins parliament’s approval

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Lump-sum taxation for wealthy foreigners to stay

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Tamils demonstrate in Geneva

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Putin election leaves Swiss press cold

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Naturalisation vote raises emotions

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Aid convoy arrives in Homs to news of executions

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Government outlines foreign policy priorities

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Young “sans-papiers” to access apprenticeships

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