Tag: Switzerland

Peer Steinbrück, the former Germany finance minister who is to run as the Social-Democrat (SPD) challenger to Chancellor Angela Merkel next year, has demonstrated his tendency for plain speaking by calling Swiss bankers 'Indians' in a move that seems to set the tone for his electoral campaign.

The leader of Germany's centre-left opposition, Sigmar Gabriel, has criticised Swiss banks for helping Germans avoid taxes in a strongly worded radio interview that could put new strains on ties between the two countries.

The European Parliament overwhelmingly passed a resolution yesterday (24 May), “highly regretting” the recently-introduced Swiss quotas for workers from the eight Central European countries which joined the EU in 2004. MEPs also blasted Berne for not allowing German and Austrian taxis to take passengers from Zurich airport.

Avoiding terms like "discrimination", Czech Prime Minister Petr Nečas yesterday (19 April) told EurActiv.cz that he regretted the decision by Switzerland to re-introduce an authorisation requirement for workers from the eight East European countries that joined the EU in 2004. The EurActiv network in Central Europe contributed to this article.

Switzerland said today (18 April) it would temporarily re-introduce an authorisation requirement for workers coming from the eight East European countries that joined the EU in 2004, a decision that was sharply  criticised by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

While the rest of Europe protests about austerity measures, Swiss voters have rejected a proposal to increase employees' annual minimum paid holiday entitlement to six from four weeks after firms warned it might hurt competitiveness and threaten jobs.

Switzerland is discussing a tax deal with Italy and is still pressing ahead with difficult talks with the United States on banking secrecy, Swiss President and Finance Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf said yesterday (12 January). 

Russia is set to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO) by mid-December 18 years after seeking membership. The last obstacle was lifted yesterday (3 November) when Georgia, with which Russia fought a brief war in August 2008, withdrew a veto over its big neighbour's accession.

In a move that echoes German measures following the Fukushima disaster, the Swiss Parliament has approved plans to phase out nuclear power plants by 2034.

After striking deals with Germany and the UK to make clients in those countries pay a levy on their secret accounts held with Swiss banks, Switzerland is now negotiating other bilateral agreements in response to pressure from EU countries to crack down on tax evasion.

Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey conveyed Switzerland’s concern about the plight of victims affected by the famine in the Horn of Africa during a visit to the region, the Swiss press reported. Calmy Rey is the only European leader to visit the scene of this year’s worst humanitarian disaster.

EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger, who is seeking to create a genuine single market for electricity, wants Switzerland to join as he sees the country as a possible hub. EurActiv France and EurActiv Germany contributed to this report.

Switzerland on Friday (17 December) called on Kosovo and the international community, including the European Union, to launch a legal probe into allegations of organ trafficking by Albanian independence fighters.

Switzerland is the third largest economic partner of the EU, after the USA and China. Switzerland is able to participate in the EU's single market thanks to a series of bilateral agreements. This approach suits the Swiss confederation, but its complexity has become problematic for the EU and attempts are now under way to simplify the relationship.

Bilateral agreements will remain the basis of relations between Switzerland and EU countries, Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey told EurActiv ahead of hosting the thirteenth international Francophonie summit. 

Recent talks between Swiss President Doris Leuthard and European Union leaders have triggered a media debate over Switzerland's relations with the 27-member bloc, the Swiss press writes.

A conflict between Libya and Switzerland has now begun to affect the EU after Tripoli decided not to issue any visas to nationals from the Schengen countries from 15 February. The move comes after Bern banned 188 high-ranking Libyans, including the country's leader, Muammar Gaddafi, from entering Switzerland.

Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg have voiced their displeasure at being placed on the OECD's 'grey list' of countries that are not yet compliant with OECD tax cooperation rules.

Two EU countries and Switzerland announced on Friday (13 March) their intention to amend banking secrecy rules in an effort to alter perceptions that they facilitate tax evasion.

A landmark settlement reached between the US tax authorities and UBS on Wednesday (18 February) is seen as a possible final nail in the coffin for Switzerland's prized banking secrecy. Far-reaching consequences for the whole offshore financial industry are also anticipated.

Switzerland will vote on Sunday (8 February) to decide whether to allow Bulgarian and Romanian citizens to work freely in the country. However, the Alpine state risks putting itself in a "difficult" situation vis-à-vis the EU in the event of a negative outcome, the country's ambassador to the EU, Jacques de Watteville, told EurActiv in an interview.

There is no political debate on Europe in Switzerland, like in the former Communist countries in the past, political strategist Frank Schwalba-Hoth told EurActiv in an interview. Together with the NGO Berner Politgespraeche, he plans to launch a debate to influence decision-making in Brussels.

According to Swiss police reports, Al-Qaida has threatened to launch attacks on the European football championships due to be held in Austria and Switzerland in June, leading to heightened vigilance by security forces.

The Swiss have agreed to contribute one billion Swiss francs (around 630 million euro) to assist new member states. The EU has subsequently expressed its willingness further to develop its relations with Switzerland.