Swiss Politics

Multinationals urged to prevent conflict

This content was published on May 5, 2004 A Swiss security expert says there is scope for them to play a greater role in conflict prevention. Daniele Ganser of the Centre for Security Studies at the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich says businesses may themselves trigger national conflicts, and have a duty to help resolve them. swissinfo: Multinational companies are expected to…

Swiss Politics

Joschka Fischer wins Gottlieb Duttweiler Prize

This content was published on May 4, 2004 The prize, which was awarded at a ceremony in Rüschlikon above Lake Zurich on Tuesday, recognises individuals “who have rendered outstanding services for the benefit of the general public”. More than five and a half years after leading Germany’s Green Party into a coalition with Chancellor Gerhard Schröder’s Social Democrats, Fischer remains one of country’s…

Swiss Politics

Asylum debate heats up

This content was published on May 3, 2004 The Right says the proposals should go some way towards limiting abuse of the system, but the Left argues that they are too harsh. During this week’s special session, the House of Representatives discussed amendments to the asylum law. The proposals, drawn up in 2002, state that asylum seekers arriving from so-called “safe” countries should…

Switzerland prepares to review immigration policy

This content was published on May 2, 2004 During a week-long session beginning on Monday, it’s expected to draw up a new bill to replace the existing law, which dates back more than 70 years. Although the 1931 law has been supplemented over the years with new provisions on immigration and the admission of refugees, it is becoming outdated. Over the past 100…

Swiss Politics

Swiss view EU enlargement with mixed feelings

This content was published on Apr 29, 2004 While many believe their country can still go it alone, others fear being left out in the cold. In 1992 the Swiss voted against joining the then European Economic Area, which would have been a first step towards full EU membership. Since then the Swiss government has negotiated a series of bilateral agreements with Brussels,…

Swiss Politics

New price controller enters the fray

This content was published on Apr 28, 2004 Rudolf Strahm of the centre-left Social Democratic Party is taking over at a time when businesses and rightwing groups are calling for the post to be scrapped. The 60-year-old parliamentarian will take over from Marti, who has been the watchdog’s boss for eight years, on August 1 this year. The Swiss price watchdog – the…

Swiss Politics

Swiss business stands to gain from EU enlargement

This content was published on Apr 27, 2004 But he said enlargement would also underscore the need for Switzerland to conclude a series of outstanding bilateral treaties with the EU. Featherstone took up the post of ambassador on March 31. It is his first ambassadorial posting. Having previously headed the EU department of the British foreign office (1998-2003), he led the team overseeing…

Swiss Politics

Geneva marks half a century of peacemaking

This content was published on Apr 26, 2004 A series of debates and a new book are offering an in-depth look at the city’s evolution as a platform for peace and the changing nature of Swiss neutrality. “In the spring of 1954, everyone feared a third world war involving nuclear weapons,” said Guy Mettan, whose historical account of the period, entitled “Genève: Ville…

Swiss Politics

Austrian MEP predicts Swiss membership of EU

This content was published on Apr 24, 2004 Austrian member of the European Parliament Paul Rübig believes that Switzerland – which is not in the EU – could soon choose to renew its membership application, which is on hold. He says this would be more likely if other traditionally eurosceptic countries such as Norway entered the EU over the next couple of years.…

Swiss Politics

UN accused of failing human rights victims

This content was published on Apr 23, 2004 The UN Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) wrapped up its 60th annual session in Geneva on Friday, amid criticism that it was too soft on governments that abuse human rights. “The commission has moved away from naming and shaming countries in favour of providing violators with technical assistance and that’s very negative,” said Adrien-Claude Zoller, the…

Swiss Politics

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