Swiss Politics Archives - Page 977 of 1339

More

Swiss Politics

Federal budget to help environmental schemes

This content was published on Dec 16, 2008 The 2009 budget foresees a surplus of SFr948 billion ($819 million). The House of Representatives on Tuesday followed the Senate in approving extra spending of about 120 million compared with the government draft budget, including a SFR340-million package to stave off the looming recession. Total expenditure for 2009 is set at SFr59.02 billion against SFr59.97…

More

Swiss Politics

Europe welcoming but wary of Swiss tax reform

This content was published on Dec 15, 2008 Nevertheless, he made it clear at a media conference after a meeting in Brussels with three Swiss government ministers that more needs to be done to satisfy the European Union over tax reform. The Swiss delegation to the talks was headed by Swiss president Pascal Couchepin, who was accompanied by Finance Minister Hans-Rudolf Merz and…

More

Swiss Politics

New cabinet minister says he will not be neutral

This content was published on Dec 14, 2008 In an interview with the SonntagsZeitung newspaper, Maurer – a member of the rightwing Swiss People’s Party – said he would “take a close look” at any issues concerning Swiss neutrality. He also said he would try to initiate a debate within the cabinet about demographic change in Switzerland and the consequences for the country’s…

More

Swiss Politics

Trade union favours free movement treaty

This content was published on Dec 14, 2008 However, Unia delegates at a weekend meeting in Bern said that they expected the government to improve measures to prevent wage dumping. The extension of the free movement treaty will go to a nationwide vote on February 8. The Swiss Trade Union Federation is expected to announce its position on the vote on Monday. The…

More

Swiss Politics

“Switzerland could learn from Germany”

This content was published on Dec 14, 2008 In an interview with swissinfo following this week’s cabinet election, de Weck talks about the place of the rightwing Swiss People’s Party and the political future of its figurehead Christoph Blocher. Blocher was one of two official candidates put forward by the party, along with Ueli Maurer, to take over the cabinet seat of Defence…

More

Swiss Politics

EU issues warning over free movement

This content was published on Dec 13, 2008 In an interview on Saturday with the French-language newspapers, 24 Heures and Tribune de Genève, the EU ambassador, Michael Reiterer, reminded the Swiss of the “guillotine” clause in the accords. “There is no room for speculation or reason to play for time,” Reiterer said. However, the EU ambassador to Bern said he was confident the…

More

Swiss Politics

Bern to represent Russia in Georgia

This content was published on Dec 13, 2008 The decision is “proof of the trust the Russian government has placed in Switzerland,” Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey said after talks in Moscow with her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. Lavrov said he was thankful for the good services of Switzerland, and that the agreement would contribute to the normalisation of the situation in the region.…

More

Swiss Politics

Schengen “benefits all Swiss citizens”

This content was published on Dec 12, 2008 The Schengen agreement is set to bring closer cooperation than ever before with the European Union on police and asylum matters. This “benefits freedom in Switzerland and the safety of all our citizens”, she said on board a boat in Basel on Friday, the day of accession. Widmer-Schlumpf joined around 100 dignitaries, including Michael Reiterer,…

More

Swiss Politics

Schengen poll

This content was published on Dec 12, 2008

More

Swiss Politics

Schengen Area takes Switzerland on board

This content was published on Dec 12, 2008 On Friday – the day of accession – Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf will meet Schengen experts from the EU in Basel, on Switzerland’s northern border. A larger celebration – at ministerial level – is planned at the end of March when Switzerland’s airports are integrated into the Schengen accords. In short, the Schengen accords deal…

Swiss Politics

Popular Stories

Most Discussed