Swiss Politics Archives - Page 1023 of 1339

More

Swiss Politics

Free trade deal with India makes progress

This content was published on Apr 29, 2008 Leuthhard, who is accompanied by representatives of 25 Swiss firms, made the announcement on Tuesday after meeting the Indian minister of trade and industry, Kamal Nath. She said such an accord was important for both countries, adding that a major delegation representing small and medium-sized business would be included in a follow-up visit next year.…

More

Swiss Politics

Flight noise harms relations with Germany

This content was published on Apr 28, 2008 The talks will also be an opportunity to discuss another issue that has been grabbing headlines for the past few months: Switzerland’s reputation as a haven for Germans hiding their money from the taxman. It’s Merkel’s first official visit to Switzerland and follows an invitation by Swiss President Pascal Couchepin in February. In 2003 Germany…

More

Swiss Politics

Global food crisis dominates talks in Bern

This content was published on Apr 28, 2008 He held talks behind closed doors on Monday with the UN Chief Executives Board, which brings together the heads of the UN funds, programmes and specialised agencies. He also held discussions on the food problem, development issues and climate change with this year’s Swiss president, Interior Minister Pascal Couchepin, and the Swiss foreign minister, Micheline…

More

Swiss Politics

UN rapporteur calls for action on food crisis

This content was published on Apr 28, 2008 Jean Ziegler made the appeal as 27 key UN agencies met in the Swiss capital, Bern, on Monday to come up with solutions to ease the escalating global food crisis. Ziegler referred to the situations in the Palestinian territories and Darfur, Sudan, where the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the…

More

Swiss Politics

Parliament reopens debate over EU labour deal

This content was published on Apr 28, 2008 The extension of a labour agreement – also known as the free movement of people accord – to the newest EU member states Bulgaria and Romania is linked to the continuation of a set of bilateral treaties with Brussels. A row over tax issues further complicates matters. Monday’s debate in the Senate marks the beginning…

More

Swiss Politics

Pro-Tibet rally gathers thousands

This content was published on Apr 26, 2008 The demonstrators, who included many exiled Tibetans living in Switzerland, demanded on Saturday that the government officially receive the Dalai Lama. The Tibetan leader will visit Bern in October following an invitation from the city authorities. Economics Minister Doris Leuthard was also asked to request from the Chinese government the authorisation for an international fact-finding…

More

Swiss Politics

Greens elect new president

This content was published on Apr 26, 2008 The new 56-year-old president has already stated that he wants to double the number of party members and garner more votes from rural areas at election time. Two women – fellow parliamentarian Franziska Teuscher and Aline Trede, a 25-year-old student representing the party’s youth movement – will second Leuenberger, who was the only candidate to…

More

Swiss Politics

Bern to impose sanctions on Chad

This content was published on Apr 25, 2008 In a government statement on Friday no details of the sanctions were given. However, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) said they included visa restrictions to Switzerland on Chadian government officials. The government said it did not want the sanctions to affect the civilian population and as a result they were targeted at “representatives…

More

Swiss Politics

Government rejects naturalisation initiative

This content was published on Apr 24, 2008 The rightwing Swiss People’s Party initiative seeks to try to overturn an effective ban by the Federal Court five years ago. A nationwide vote is due to take place on June 1. Widmer-Schlumpf said the cabinet’s rejection was founded on the guarantee of constitutional rights to every individual and in particular on protection against discrimination…

More

Swiss Politics

Life looks up for Swiss animals

This content was published on Apr 23, 2008 Legislation to this effect comes into force on September 1, although there will be a grace period of two years while the courses are set up. This is one of the amendments to the law on the protection of animals announced by the government on Wednesday. But while tightening up the legislation, the authorities are…

Swiss Politics

Popular Stories

Most Discussed