Swiss Politics

Aid agency goes under the microscope

This content was published on Dec 11, 2006 The report, published on Monday, recommends the SDC focus on priority regions, notably in poorest Africa. It says the government should review the SDC’s management tools and strategic conduct. The government was also urged to guarantee the systematic checking of projects and clarify any grey areas between the SDC and the State Secretariat for Economic…

Swiss Politics

Corruption threatens Swiss representations

This content was published on Dec 10, 2006 The information, published in the SonntagsZeitung newspaper, comes just days before a former employee of the Swiss embassy in Moscow goes on trial for selling visas. Top of the list of representations deemed most at risk are Beijing, Moscow and Mumbai. A foreign ministry spokesman confirmed that the list also included New Delhi, Istanbul, Kiev,…

Swiss Politics

Swiss hail progress on biological weapons deal

This content was published on Dec 9, 2006 The three-week meeting in Geneva agreed on a plan of action to break the deadlock in negotiations over measures to enforce a global ban on biological weapons. “Switzerland is very happy with the outcome of the conference, considering the last review meeting five years ago ended in failure,” Francesco Quattrini of the Centre for International…

Swiss Politics

Spiez scientists work for peace

This content was published on Dec 9, 2006 On behalf of international organisations, it trains experts and sends specialists to war zones or polluted sites from Siberia to Iraq. Since ancient times man has used poison on the battlefield. But it was during the First World War that it became a weapon of mass destruction. A ban laid down by the 1899 Hague…

Swiss Politics

Swiss give EU short shrift in tax stand-off

This content was published on Dec 4, 2006 Speaking in Geneva on Monday, Michael Ambühl said the practice whereby some Swiss cantons slash taxes to attract foreign businesses did not violate a free-trade accord with Brussels. “Our position is absolutely clear… that the cantonal taxes do not constitute a subsidy – indirect or direct – to the exchange of goods, and as such…

Swiss Politics

Money and language set to fuel heated debates

This content was published on Dec 4, 2006 Other issues in the spotlight include debates on a new language law and ballots for next year’s Swiss president as well as the speakers of both parliamentary chambers. After an extraordinary session in the mountain resort of Flims in autumn parliament has returned to its home in Bern where renovation work is still underway in…

Swiss Politics

American Vox Populi

This content was published on Dec 1, 2006 The main facts are by now well known: Democrats regained majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Power shifts also occurred at the state level. The suspense that had built up by Election Day, and the joy and sadness of winners and losers, were what made this contest so interesting. Now, a…

Leuenberger concerned about cabinet consensus

This content was published on Nov 29, 2006 Leuenberger, who finishes his term as president at the end of the year, said he would stand again in cabinet elections scheduled for December 2007. He said the past 11 months had not always been easy but the current system had generally worked well. He noted that he invested a lot of effort into keeping…

Swiss Politics

Voter pragmatism wins the day for Europe

This content was published on Nov 27, 2006 Editorialists said Sunday’s ballots, in which voters also approved minimum child benefits, confirmed that the country was behind the government’s bilateral approach. The French-language business paper L’Agefi provided the context, saying the vote was the third in favour of the bilateral route in 18 months. This suggested that the electorate was happy with non-member Switzerland’s…

Swiss Politics

Government hails approval of EU funds in poll

This content was published on Nov 26, 2006 Final results from Sunday’s nationwide ballot show 53 per cent in favour of the EU funds. The unified child benefit proposal was supported by 68 per cent of voters. Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey said the payments to eastern Europe were Switzerland’s contribution to stability and social equality on the continent. “Switzerland has shown that it…

Swiss Politics

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Swiss Politics

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Aid agency goes under the microscope

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Corruption threatens Swiss representations

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Swiss hail progress on biological weapons deal

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Spiez scientists work for peace

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Swiss give EU short shrift in tax stand-off

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Money and language set to fuel heated debates

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American Vox Populi

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Leuenberger concerned about cabinet consensus

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Voter pragmatism wins the day for Europe

More

Government hails approval of EU funds in poll

Popular Stories

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