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Swiss Politics

Bigger EU prompts second thoughts in Switzerland

This content was published on Apr 15, 2004 Switzerland submitted an application to join the Union 12 years ago, but has never officially pursued it. A recent conference of cantonal governments demanded a clearer European policy at the federal level, with almost half of the 26 cantons saying they were in favour of the country joining the EU. This year’s Swiss president, Joseph…

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Swiss to build mountain in Japan

This content was published on Apr 3, 2004 But opinion is divided about whether the country should be spending millions of francs of public money on its presence at the global event. Visitors to the Swiss pavilion at Expo 2005 – the first global cultural event of the 21st century – will be invited to walk around inside the mountain and take in…

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Swiss Politics

Bilateral route unlikely to survive EU enlargement

This content was published on Apr 2, 2004 But experts say that after “Bilaterals II” Switzerland will struggle to advance its interests with a Union preoccupied with integrating ten new members after May 1. The Swiss cabinet on Thursday signalled that a deal was not far off, after nearly three years of difficult negotiations on agreements ranging from savings taxation to judicial assistance.…

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Cabinet newcomers steer clear of controversy

This content was published on Apr 2, 2004 Their first three months in office have been characterised by a surprising lack of confrontation, but the general view is that battle has yet to be joined. It was expected that sparks would fly in the new-look cabinet, elected by parliament on December 10 last year. In a political upset, instead of two representatives from…

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Diplomat puts positive spin on Bürgenstock talks

This content was published on Apr 1, 2004 As five days of intense negotiations in Switzerland drew to an end, swissinfo asked Pfirter for his assessment of how the talks had gone. Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders left the Bürgenstock resort near Lake Lucerne without having reached an agreement on the UN’s 9,000-page plan. But Pfirter believes there is still time to iron…

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Cabinet stands firm over EU accords

This content was published on Apr 1, 2004 Meeting on Wednesday evening, it resisted pressure from the EU and from the eurosceptic Right to change its position. The EU has called on Switzerland to sign an agreement on the taxation of savings as a first step towards wrapping up negotiations. “The government reiterated its firm intention to successfully conclude negotiations with the EU,”…

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Swiss abroad flex their muscles

This content was published on Mar 28, 2004 The Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA) rejected moves to give expatriates more political power, preferring instead to increase their lobbying efforts. The CSA – an assembly representing expatriates’ interests at home – said that Switzerland’s sizeable expatriate population was still not adequately represented in its homeland. In the last years there have been calls…

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Swiss Politics

Politics is a man’s world

This content was published on Mar 28, 2004 And as party president, Ueli Maurer, made clear in an interview with swissinfo, the fact that the party is now fully represented in government changes nothing. Five months after the People’s Party triumphed in parliamentary elections, its rhetoric has become less provocative and strident. But that is primarily because its figurehead, Christoph Blocher, has had…

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Cantons call for new debate on EU membership

This content was published on Mar 25, 2004 At the cantonal governments’ conference they demanded a clearer European policy and warned that the bilateral agreements with the EU would lead nowhere. “The cantons don’t see an alternative to EU membership,” said Hans Martin Tschudi, a parliamentarian from Basel. During their regular meeting 12 cantons expressed support for EU membership, eight were opposed to…

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Swiss Politics

Resort offers peaceful setting for Cyprus talks

This content was published on Mar 23, 2004 It is not the first peace conference, and probably will not be the last, to be held in one of Switzerland’s grand hotels. The United Nations-sponsored talks involving Cypriot, Turkish and Greek leaders are probably the last chance to resolve differences ahead of the island’s accession to the European Union on May 1. As a…

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