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S U B S C R I B E
WRS stories about EU
Poll: Majority of Swiss still against EU membership
Wednesday, 31 March, 2010
The long-running diplomatic spat with Libya and a global assault on banking secrecy have served to remind the Swiss just how alone they are in the world. No surprise then that the country’s pro-Europe lobby has been vaunting the benefits that membership of the European Union would bring. So it may come as some surprise that a poll of 1,000 people commissioned by Reader’s Digest Switzerland has found that most Swiss are still opposed to EU membership. WRS’s Carla Drysdale called on Michael Fust, secretary-general of the New European Movement of Switzerland (NOMES) in Bern, to find out if they were surprised by the results:
Wednesday, 31 March, 2010
The long-running diplomatic spat with Libya and a global assault on banking secrecy have served to remind the Swiss just how alone they are in the world. No surprise then that the country’s pro-Europe lobby has been vaunting the benefits that membership of the European Union would bring. So it may come as some surprise that a poll of 1,000 people commissioned by Reader’s Digest Switzerland has found that most Swiss are still opposed to EU membership. WRS’s Carla Drysdale called on Michael Fust, secretary-general of the New European Movement of Switzerland (NOMES) in Bern, to find out if they were surprised by the results:
Swiss relationship with 'new' EU even more complicated
Monday, 15 February, 2010
Last week, the European parliament voted in the new European Commission. It’s one of a host of changes this year in Brussels and Strasbourg. Among them, a stronger parliament and new leaders to head the bloc. So what does this mean for Switzerland, a country living outside the EU, but intimately connected to it? WRS’s Mark Butcher called on Rene Schwok, a political science professor at the University of Geneva:
Monday, 15 February, 2010
Last week, the European parliament voted in the new European Commission. It’s one of a host of changes this year in Brussels and Strasbourg. Among them, a stronger parliament and new leaders to head the bloc. So what does this mean for Switzerland, a country living outside the EU, but intimately connected to it? WRS’s Mark Butcher called on Rene Schwok, a political science professor at the University of Geneva:
Questions of EU membership not going anywhere
Monday, 9 November, 2009
Monday, 9 November, 2009
Would Switzerland be less isolated if it was part of the EU? Is the “bilateral way” sustainable? With Switzerland’s unemployment is much lower than that of the EU, and the standards of living are higher: What’s in it for us? To tackle these and other questions in this persistent debate, WRS’s Conor Lennon invites to the discussion table:
- NZZ journalist Beat Kappeler
- Dr. Ruxandra Stoicescu from WRS’s International Relations Uncovered
- Claudio Zanetti, Member of Parliament for Zurich and former Central Secretary of the Zurich Swiss People Party
- François Baur, permanent delegate of economiesuisse in Brussels
Confronting the new reality in Brussels
Wednesday, 4 November, 2009
Brussels is becoming impatient with having to negotiate detail after detail in the many bilateral agreements between the EU and Switzerland, says Jean Russotto, a Swiss attorney based in Brussels. But clearly the Swiss won’t adopt EU laws wholesale, and EU membership is not in the picture at this stage. So, WRS’s Jordan Davis asks Russotto, is there a way around this impasse?
Wednesday, 4 November, 2009
Brussels is becoming impatient with having to negotiate detail after detail in the many bilateral agreements between the EU and Switzerland, says Jean Russotto, a Swiss attorney based in Brussels. But clearly the Swiss won’t adopt EU laws wholesale, and EU membership is not in the picture at this stage. So, WRS’s Jordan Davis asks Russotto, is there a way around this impasse?
Patience with Swiss demands wears thin
Tuesday, 3 November, 2009
Switzerland has long-resisted EU membership, preferring instead to strengthen economic ties with its neighbors through bilateral agreements. But in some corners of the EU headquarters, Switzerland’s special status is a growing source of frustration. WRS’s Jordan Davis brings us another view of Swiss-EU relations from Brussels.
Tuesday, 3 November, 2009
Switzerland has long-resisted EU membership, preferring instead to strengthen economic ties with its neighbors through bilateral agreements. But in some corners of the EU headquarters, Switzerland’s special status is a growing source of frustration. WRS’s Jordan Davis brings us another view of Swiss-EU relations from Brussels.
But does the EU want Switzerland?
Monday, 2 November, 2009
EU membership is back on the table for Switzerland. In a recent foreign policy report, the government said EU membership is a scenario that cannot be excluded in the future. In Bern, this created political shockwaves—and is breaking the taboo over whether Switzerland should join the EU. But this week, WRS’s Jordan Davis is looking at Swiss-EU relations from the perspective of Brussels.
Monday, 2 November, 2009
EU membership is back on the table for Switzerland. In a recent foreign policy report, the government said EU membership is a scenario that cannot be excluded in the future. In Bern, this created political shockwaves—and is breaking the taboo over whether Switzerland should join the EU. But this week, WRS’s Jordan Davis is looking at Swiss-EU relations from the perspective of Brussels.
Impact of proposed EU deal on Swiss data protection unknown
Thursday, 23 July, 2009
The European Union says it wants to give American anti-terror investigators wider access to SWIFT bank transfer information. SWIFT of course, refers to the code you need when you transfer money between countries. It’s unclear whether non-EU member, Switzerland, can prevent this data from being copied or exported to SWIFT’s headquarters in Brussels. There was a huge outcry three years ago when it came to light that the CIA was tapping into SWIFT transactions. WRS’s Adam Beaumont called on Eliane Schmid, the spokeswoman for the Bern-based Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner, for her take on the situation.
Thursday, 23 July, 2009
The European Union says it wants to give American anti-terror investigators wider access to SWIFT bank transfer information. SWIFT of course, refers to the code you need when you transfer money between countries. It’s unclear whether non-EU member, Switzerland, can prevent this data from being copied or exported to SWIFT’s headquarters in Brussels. There was a huge outcry three years ago when it came to light that the CIA was tapping into SWIFT transactions. WRS’s Adam Beaumont called on Eliane Schmid, the spokeswoman for the Bern-based Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner, for her take on the situation.
Foreign Affairs: Election fever
Monday, 15 June, 2009
Philippe Mottaz and his panel leaf through the week’s international pages, with a focus on the recent European parliamentary elections.
Monday, 15 June, 2009
Philippe Mottaz and his panel leaf through the week’s international pages, with a focus on the recent European parliamentary elections.
Dateline CH: Swiss say no to quotas
Thursday, 21 May, 2009
Vincent Landon is joined by Haig Simonian of the Financial Times and Pascal Lechler of ARD to discuss quotas on workers from EU countries, the world health assembly meeting in Geneva, continuing woes at UBS and 125 years of Swiss army knives.
Thursday, 21 May, 2009
Vincent Landon is joined by Haig Simonian of the Financial Times and Pascal Lechler of ARD to discuss quotas on workers from EU countries, the world health assembly meeting in Geneva, continuing woes at UBS and 125 years of Swiss army knives.
Government rejects EU worker 'safeguard clause'
Thursday, 21 May, 2009
With rising unemployment and a steep influx of EU nationals, the Swiss government recently considered implementing the so-called ’safeguard clause’ in the Free Movement of People treaty, to limit the number of workers arriving from the EU’s orginal member states. Yesterday, however, the Federal Cabinet rejected the measure, saying quotas would be counterproductive and ineffective as an economic measure. Roland Abeglen, from the New European Movement of Switzerland told WRS’s Jordan Davis that the government was also considering how Brussels would react to quotas.
Thursday, 21 May, 2009
With rising unemployment and a steep influx of EU nationals, the Swiss government recently considered implementing the so-called ’safeguard clause’ in the Free Movement of People treaty, to limit the number of workers arriving from the EU’s orginal member states. Yesterday, however, the Federal Cabinet rejected the measure, saying quotas would be counterproductive and ineffective as an economic measure. Roland Abeglen, from the New European Movement of Switzerland told WRS’s Jordan Davis that the government was also considering how Brussels would react to quotas.
Swiss-EU relations strain over quotas
Monday, 18 May, 2009
On Wednesday Swiss ministers will decide whether to impose quotas on workers from the 15 original EU countries, plus Malta and Cyprus, following last week’s decision to extendrestrictions on the number of workers from certain European Union member states. The government points out it’s allowed to do so in times of rising unemployment under a labour accord signed with the EU, but not only has the decision angered unions and employers in Switzerland, it’s also drawn accusations of ’protectionism’ from Brussels. WRS’s Adam Beaumont spoke to Bilyana Raeva, who heads the European Parliament’s delegation to Switzerland and began by asking her if Switzerland was justified in protecting its labour market.
Monday, 18 May, 2009
On Wednesday Swiss ministers will decide whether to impose quotas on workers from the 15 original EU countries, plus Malta and Cyprus, following last week’s decision to extendrestrictions on the number of workers from certain European Union member states. The government points out it’s allowed to do so in times of rising unemployment under a labour accord signed with the EU, but not only has the decision angered unions and employers in Switzerland, it’s also drawn accusations of ’protectionism’ from Brussels. WRS’s Adam Beaumont spoke to Bilyana Raeva, who heads the European Parliament’s delegation to Switzerland and began by asking her if Switzerland was justified in protecting its labour market.
The WRS Debate: To EU or not to EU?
Wednesday, 6 May, 2009
Jordan Davis is joined for the inaugural WRS debate in the halls of the Federal Palace for a discussion with Liberal party MP Christa Markwalder and Swiss People’s Party MP Luzi Stamm on whether Switzerland should re-think its go-it-alone stance on European Union membership. He also weighs the pros and cons of the May 17th vote on biometric passports with two parliamentarians on opposite sides of the campaign, Oskar Freysinger and Ruedi Noser.
Wednesday, 6 May, 2009
Jordan Davis is joined for the inaugural WRS debate in the halls of the Federal Palace for a discussion with Liberal party MP Christa Markwalder and Swiss People’s Party MP Luzi Stamm on whether Switzerland should re-think its go-it-alone stance on European Union membership. He also weighs the pros and cons of the May 17th vote on biometric passports with two parliamentarians on opposite sides of the campaign, Oskar Freysinger and Ruedi Noser.
