Swiss Politics

Animal farmers fear wave of denunciations

This content was published on Feb 21, 2010 They say there is a lack of consistent controls on farm animals despite obvious progress compared with the situation 15 years ago. But farmers are opposed to an initiative, launched by animal rights organisations, and which will come to a nationwide vote on March 7. “We have never said that every single breeder is in…

Swiss Politics

Leuthard to discuss Libya on visit to Spain

This content was published on Feb 21, 2010 Leuthard’s trip marks the second time in a week that a top Swiss official has travelled to the Spanish capital to talk about Switzerland’s row with the North African nation. Micheline Calmy-Rey, the Swiss foreign minister, met earlier in the week with her Libyan counterpart, Mousa Kousa, in an ongoing attempt to settle differences stemming…

Swiss Politics

Ministers agree to reform European rights court

This content was published on Feb 19, 2010 Switzerland, which currently holds the chairmanship of the council’s committee of ministers organised the two-day conference in Interlaken try to tackle the problems facing the Strasbourg court. Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey and Justice Minister Eveline Wider-Schlumpf represented Switzerland at the conference. The declaration seeks to reduce the number of inadmissible applications, which make up 90…

Swiss Politics

Swiss-Libya talks set to continue in Berlin

This content was published on Feb 18, 2010 Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey held talks with her Libyan counterpart Mousa Kousa in Madrid on Thursday, days after Tripoli blocked visas to citizens of the 25-nation Schengen Area. Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos tried to take a positive tone. “There has been progress and overall a will to find a solution, but I…

Swiss Politics

Libya visa ban set “a bad precedent”

This content was published on Feb 18, 2010 The Swiss decision, made last autumn, was one of many salvos in a two-year bilateral dispute and sparked Tripoli to bar citizens of Schengen zone nations from entering the country. Marcelo Kohen, a professor of international law at Geneva’s Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, said that Bern chose the wrong strategy. In late…

Swiss Politics

More Swiss find a home away from home

This content was published on Feb 17, 2010 The majority – 60 per cent – are resident in European Union countries, with the three bordering countries of France (179,106), Germany (76,565) and Italy (48,638) hosting the largest Swiss expat populations. Outside of Europe, the United States is the most popular country for Swiss to settle in, with almost 75,000 Swiss residents, followed by…

Swiss Politics

Stakes raised in Libyan dispute as EU roped in

This content was published on Feb 17, 2010 The Libyan move has sparked a flurry of diplomatic activity to tackle the crisis, including a meeting of Schengen ministers and talks between the Italian foreign minister and his Libyan counterpart. Franco Frattini, whose country is dependent on Libya to stem the flow of illegal immigrants entering Italian waters, met on Wednesday with Libya’s Mousa…

Swiss Politics

Public puzzled by campaign on pension cuts

This content was published on Feb 16, 2010 But less than three weeks ahead of the vote it is not clear to what extent campaigns by supporters and opponents have had an impact on the public perception despite a flood of propaganda material. Voters will be asked to decide on the minimum conversion rate of the occupational pension scheme. The rate presently stands…

Swiss Politics

Minister returns from Brussels on upbeat note

This content was published on Feb 16, 2010 The minister went to Brussels largely to sign a “Lifelong Learning” accord that will allow Swiss citizens to pursue educational opportunities across Europe starting next year. In a meeting with John Dalli, EU health and consumer protection commissioner, Burkhalter also touched on a “delicate” agriculture free-trade agreement. The two held “exploratory talks” on whether negotiations…

Swiss Politics

EU says Libya’s visa ban is “disproportionate”

This content was published on Feb 16, 2010 A European Commission spokesman described the ban as a “unilateral, disproportionate measure”. “At the same time, we really regret that even citizens from EU Schengen member countries who were in possession of a valid visa were refused entry and sent back,” he added. Officials confirmed on Monday that Libya had stopped issuing entry visas to…

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