The Swiss Confederation a brief guide 2007

Federal Chancellor

Annemarie Huber-Hotz

I am delighted at your interest in “The Swiss Confederation – a brief

guide – 2007”. This richly illustrated brochure (with works by the

photographer Julie de Tribolet from Lausanne) is published each

year and gives you a broad yet clear picture of Switzerland’s politi-

cal institutions and executive authorities while also highlighting the

structure and role played by the State.

2007 is an important year for Switzerland, especially as far as

domestic politics is concerned: on 21 October, voters from the 26

cantons will elect the 200 members of the National Council and 43 of

the 46 members of the Council of States.

Preparations for these elections, which take place every four

years, are the responsibility of the Federal Chancellery, but the

practical aspects are decided by each individual canton; the number

of National Council members that a canton elects is determined by

the size of its population, by the way. The canton with the largest

population (Zurich) has the most seats (34) whereas the smallest

cantons (Uri, Glarus, Obwalden, Nidwalden, and Appenzell Innerrho-

den and Appenzell Ausserrhoden) only send one person to the large

chamber. The situation is different in the Council of States where

twenty cantons each have two seats and six cantons each have one

seat.

Did you know that all Swiss nationals who have turned 18 have

the right to vote and be elected? This being the case, I should like to

take this opportunity to appeal to all young people to make use of

their political rights and take an active part in the election.

One of our greatest general concerns is to raise awareness of

political, economic and social matters among future generations as

early as possible. After all, it is they who will ultimately decide the

destiny of our country. In order to prepare the ground for this, the

Federal Council and Parliament are always keen to support educa-

tional campaigns that we hope will act as a special incentive for

young people! I hope you enjoy reading our brochure.

Dear readers,

Cover: The game down by the Aare looks quite relaxed, while above in the ParliamentBuilding, tucked between the east and west wings of the Federal Palace, a moreserious, future-oriented approach is called for; hopefully a good measure ofambition and fairness is evident in both places.

Switzerland in 2007: situation appraisal and outlook

Direct Democracy: a distinctive feature of Switzerland

The Legislative Branch: National Council and Council of States

TThhee EExxeeccuuttiivvee BBrraanncchh:: Federal Council and departments

The Judicial Branch: the Federal Courts

An interview with Micheline Calmy-Rey, President of the Swiss Confederation

Population

Finances

A brief look back at the events of 2006

The political levels

People’s rights at federal level

The political organisation of Switzerland

The election of Parliament

Members of the Council of States

Members of the National Council

The United Federal Assembly

The political parties

The parliamentary groups

The committees and delegations

The work of parliament

Forms of parliamentary intervention

How is new legislation enacted?

Parliamentary Services

The Federal Council

Organisation of the Federal Administration

The Federal Chancellery

The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA

The Federal Department of Home Affairs FDHA

The Federal Department of Justice and Police FDJP

The Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport DDPS

The Federal Department of Finance FDF

The Federal Department of Economic Affairs FDEA

The Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications DETEC

The members of the Federal Council since 1848

The Third Power

The Federal Supreme Court

The Federal Courts of first instance

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24

26

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46

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66

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2

Switzerland inSwitzerland once again has two women Federal Councillors: Doris Leuthard finds herself surrounded by well-wishers,the media and a flag-bearing citizen from Merenschwand, the Federal Councillor’s home town.

3

d in 2007: situation appraisal and outlook

4

Neutrality is an issue I feel

strongly about President Micheline Calmy-Rey in conversation with Christiane Imsand, parliamentary correspondent for the “Nouvelliste”, Sion

5

Mrs Calmy-Rey, being President

of the Swiss Confederation

means that you chair the Fede-

ral Council meetings and repre-

sent Switzerland abroad; but it

also gives you a privileged posi-

tion. Do you have a particular

message that you wish to con-

vey on this occasion?

I do indeed. The year as pre-

sident is a wonderful opportuni-

ty for meeting the Swiss people.

We should take the time to consi-

der what it is that unites us.

What is it that allows us to live

peaceably in a multicultural,

multilingual and multi-faith

environment? What does a

woman from Geneva have in

common with a woman from

Zurich? What does a farmer from

the mountains have in common

with a town-dweller? We are a

nation born out of the will to live

together, as Denis de Rougemont

once said. There is something

very contemporary about this.

We have achieved this social

cohesion thanks to the instituti-

ons that we have set up. Many

States envy this because it is a

factor for peace.

Do you think then that “Swiss-

ness” is in large part the result

of institutions such as fede-

ralism and semi-direct demo-

cracy?

I think they play a very

important role. I am a member of

the French-speaking minority

and our federalist system has

allowed me to lead a full profes-

sional life in Geneva without ever

feeling overshadowed by or

forced to speak the dominant

language in my dealings with the

authorities. I believe that Swiss

people are very keen on this kind

of respect for different cultures.

It is one of the reasons that some

people are somewhat reticent

about Switzerland becoming a

member of the European Union.

Many people are afraid of being

swamped by the language and

cultural majorities of our

neighbours.

Many people also think that

semi-direct democracy is a

heavy burden to carry. They are

counting on a rapprochement

with Europe to limit its scope.

I don’t think that membership

would have this effect. In any

case, it would be wrong to consi-

der the right of referendum or of

initiative to be an obstacle to our

policy. Look at the European

issues. The Federal Council’s

policy has been corroborated by

the three referendums that we

have held over the last two years.

Our policy is backed by the

people and this gives us enor-

mous clout in international nego-

tiations. Many of my colleagues

envy this capacity to be in touch

with the needs and aspirations

of the Swiss people. This close-

ness is a real asset.

tions increasingly becoming the

target. We are moving from a tra-

ditional concept of state security

to a concept of human security,

and consequently we have a

responsibility to protect indivi-

duals. This entails a very diffe-

rent attitude on the part of the

international community to

human rights violations and to

the prevention of conflicts and it

entails a policy of alliance with

states from other continents and

cultures. This also requires state

and non-state players to respect

and protect basic humanity, and

to share the lowest common

denominator of values, such as

those enshrined in the Geneva

Conventions.

Is your policy therefore based

on the defence of these values?

Of course. But this changing

pattern of international relations

has little to do with me. It is the

result of collective reflection at

government level, within the Uni-

ted Nations and at research cen-

tres in response to the emerging

trends. Switzerland has a long

history of concern for the pro-

tection of civilian populations; it

is the birthplace of the Interna-

tional Committee of the Red

Cross (ICRC); it has pursued a

policy of influence since the 16th

century. This gives us a special

role to play as the depositary

state of the Geneva Conventions.

That gives us an advantage.

6

Despite this democratic system,

it is only the second time that a

woman has become President of

the Swiss Confederation. Are

women in positions of authority

destined to remain the excep-

tion in Switzerland?

Not at all. It is important for

there to be women in the top

jobs, whether in business or poli-

tics. They are role models that

young girls can identify with. But

these careers do not just happen

overnight. Equality is also a

question of political will. We

have, for example, taken a whole

range of measures to recruit

women to the diplomatic service.

It was clear that equality was

being held back by a lack of

female applications and we have

conducted an active recruitment

campaign in the universities.

The results obtained encourage

us to continue this venture.

What you are saying then is

that proactive measures are

essential?

Yes. It is not enough just to

say that you believe in equality.

If you wait for it to fall like

manna from heaven, the percen-

tage of women ambassadors will

continue to remain at a meagre

10 per cent. Besides, our efforts

are not confined to recruiting

women diplomats. We have also

taken steps to reconcile the pro-

fession of ambassador, for both

men and women, with family

commitments. It is true that a

diplomatic career that entails a

succession of periods of service

abroad is difficult for a husband

or a wife. We have therefore deci-

ded to support job opportunities

for spouses in the country of

office.

Do you also advocate positive

discrimination of women in the

political domain?

Yes. I think that it would be a

good thing if parties were to be

more proactive in their search

for candidates. You cannot claim

to have a high percentage of

women in legislative or executive

posts if you do not come up with

female candidates or if they are

systematically placed at the bot-

tom of the list. They also need to

be given the means to conduct

their own campaigns. In my case,

my political career got off the

ground because the Geneva

Social Democratic Party had

decided to apply a quota of 50%

of women on the lists for the

Cantonal Parliament!

The quota policy was therefore

the first step that led to your

being in charge of Swiss foreign

policy. How do you see this poli-

cy? Is it limited to defending

our security and wellbeing or

do you also see a moral dimen-

sion as your human rights poli-

cy would seem to suggest?

The aim of foreign policy is

to defend our interests. The fact

that I refer to the Geneva Con-

ventions, of which Switzerland is

the depositary state, is also an

integral part of this policy.

Respect for human rights and the

rule of law are essential factors

for peace and stability. Besides,

the nature of conflicts is

changing with civilian popula-

How does Swiss neutrality come

into the equation?

Neutrality is an asset these

days. It means that we have no

hidden agenda and adopt an

impartial attitude to parties to a

conflict. It makes us bridge-

builders.

You give the impression none-

theless that you have redefined

Swiss neutrality. Take, for

instance, your position in

favour of independence for

Kosovo.

I am not the first person to

understand neutrality as an ac-

tive concept. Max Petitpierre in

the 1950s is a case in point. Neu-

trality is a tool to be used in the

service of security policy. It is

also a message of peace that has

to be put into practice by peace

promotion measures. Kosovo is a

region that is still unstable and

where we have close ties, both

economic and human, as ten per

cent of the Kosovo population

live in Switzerland. The problems

still to be resolved require a cla-

rification of Kosovo’s status.

Nationalist circles see you,

however, as a danger to neutra-

lity…

Neutrality is an issue I feel

strongly about. Switzerland is

neither a member of the Europe-

an Union nor of NATO. We stand

alone to defend our interests in

the world. I believe that we must

use our assets, and this includes

neutrality, and we must use them

well. The polls show that Swiss

people identify with a concept of

active neutrality.

You do a lot of travelling as

Foreign Minister. How is Swit-

zerland perceived abroad?

”Our policy is backed by the

people”

”Equality is also a question of

political will”

the new Human Rights Council

and the Convention on the Mar-

king, Registration and Tracing of

Small Arms and Light Weapons.

And with Mexico we are jointly

supervising the follow-up to the

environment summit held in the

summer of 2005.

Europe is, however, our nearest

field of action. At the end of

2007 it will be 15 years since

Switzerland said no to the EEA.

The sixth of December 1992

was a low point for us but since

then we have built up a complex

structure of bilateral agree-

ments. Even the EU welcomed

the result of the vote on 26

November 2006 as a success for

the bilateral path. This path has

the advantage of flexibility, and

the Federal Council considers it

to be the most expedient path at

the moment in that our economic

interests are safeguarded, our

margin for political manoeuvre is

maintained and our partner is

willing to negotiate with us. If

just one of these conditions were

no longer met, we would have to

reconsider our position.

Do you think that it would be in

Switzerland’s interest to place

its relations with the EU in an

institutional framework?

This issue is being addres-

sed. The advantage of a frame-

work agreement is that it would

simplify the management of the

bilateral agreements. At present

there are around twenty major

agreements and as many joint

committees and sub-committees.

It could also be in our interests

to improve the structure of our

relations with the EU, and to

guarantee regularity in

exchanges.

7

Social security is also a subject

of concern for many people.

How do you integrate this into

your policy?

We are living in a new era:

the age of globalisation. This

does not benefit everyone in the

same way, whether at an interna-

tional or a national level. We are

living in an increasingly compe-

titive world. Even if Switzerland

has the advantage of having a

favourable economic situation,

there is still a clear trend

towards increased flexibility,

coupled with less job security in

the labour market. We have to be

constantly competitive. It is a

new reality which at times is dif-

ficult to face up to. Given this

situation, I find that cost-cutting

measures that have an impact on

the State’s tasks in the social

sector are a cause for concern.

For me, political and social just-

ice remains a top priority. This is

at the heart of my commitment

as a politician.

Switzerland has a very positive

image. The Swiss are much more

critical about their country than

people from other countries. I

notice this every time people I

speak to abroad express asto-

nishment that a small country

with virtually no national

resources could have become so

prosperous or praise the quality

of our development programmes.

This is not just my subjective

perception. An international com-

parison published at the end of

2005 puts Switzerland in second

place just behind the United

Kingdom. This high ranking is

not based solely on the beauty of

our landscapes or the quality of

our chocolate but on our institu-

tions and the ensuing rights and

on the policies that we pursue,

particularly in the protection of

human rights.

Switzerland has been a member

of the United Nations for five

years now. Does that help to

strengthen its image?

We have strengthened our

credibility with the work we have

done within the United Nations.

We have shown that a country

like Switzerland can get results.

Along with a group of other

countries known as the “small

five”, we have introduced propo-

sals concerning the transparency

of the Security Council’s work.

Most of these proposals have

been taken up by an ad hoc wor-

king group. We also pushed for

With enlargement the EU is

becoming increasingly multicul-

tural. This is also the case in

Switzerland. Is there not a ten-

dency for us to overestimate the

problems of integration?

No. We would be making a

big mistake if we were to ignore

these problems. Twenty-one per

cent of Switzerland’s resident

population are foreign nationals

and integration is not something

that can be taken for granted. It

requires efforts on all sides. In

Switzerland we have a system

that has enabled the coexistence

of several languages and religi-

ons. This system is now facing

the challenge of having to adapt

to immigration from further

afield. Our good fortune is to

have gradually built up an insti-

tutional framework which encou-

rages dialogue. This is something

which we should cherish.

The Swiss people themselves

with their four languages and

four cultures often do little

more than cohabit. Is there not

something that could be done

to favour the integration of

minorities?

Absolutely. We must do

everything in our power to make

multiculturalism the norm

everywhere, starting with the

Federal Administration where

more attention needs to be paid

to minorities. We must ensure

that they are not isolated from

the workings of state.

”Ten per cent ofthe Kosovo

population live inSwitzerland” ”The bilateral path

has the advantageof flexibility”

0 100 200 300300 200 100

0–5

10–15

20–25

30–35

40–45

50–55

60–65

70–75

80–85

90–95

100+

1

23

4

8

1

2

3

4

6

10

9

11

12

5

7

8

1

2

3

4

5

6

12

3

4

56

7

8

9

<3000 Fr. 3,1%

3001–4000 Fr.17,9%

4001–5000 Fr.26,6%5001–6000 Fr.

19,2%

6001–7000 Fr.11,5%

7001–8000 Fr.6,9%

>8000 Fr.13,8%

Population

>20001000–2000

750–1000500–750300–500200–300150–200100–150

50–100<50

Inhabitants per km2

7 459 128 inhabitantsof which 1 541 912 are foreign nationals (20.7%)

1 Italy 19.3%2 Serbia Montenegro 12.8%3 Portugal 10.9%4 Germany 10.3%5 Turkey 4.9%6 Spain 4.7%

7 France 4.6%8 Macedonia 3.9%9 Bosnia Herzegovina 2.8%10 Croatia 2.6%11 Other European countries 9.7%12 Other continents 13.4%

1 Roman Catholic 41.8%2 Protestant 35.3%3 Muslim 4.3%4 Other religious communities 3.2%5 None 11.1%6 No details 4.3%

1 German 63.7%2 French 20.4%3 Italian 6.5%4 Romansh 0.5%

Other 9.0%

1 Food and alcohol-free beverages 8.0%2 Clothing and shoes 2.8%3 Housing (including energy) 17.0%4 Transport and communications 9.5%5 Entertainment, relaxation and culture 6.7%6 Restaurant and hotels 6.3%7 Social insurance contributions 15.4%8 Taxes and charges 13.2%9 Other expenditure 21.1%

Population density

Language regions 2000(main language spoken by the majority)

Age structure 2004(five-year classes, in thousands)

Religion 2000Foreign nationals 2005(by country of origin)

Household 2004expenditure

Income 2004 (net monthly; full-time employed)

SwissForeign nationals

Women Men

End of 2005

14 000

12 000

10 000

8 000

6 000

4 000

2 000

0

10 2126202

58563547

3157

14 1437806

45763771

39252052

24665917

10 2163585

4500

140 000

120 000

100 000

80 000

60 000

40 000

20 000

0 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05

9

60 000

50 000

40 000

30 000

20 000

10 000

095 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05

FinancesFederal revenue 2005 Developments in revenue

(CHF million)

Federal expenditure 2005

Developments in debt (CHF million)

Indirect taxes CHF 31 307 m 61.1%Direct taxes CHF 16 213 m 31.6%Other revenues CHF 3 762 m 7.3%Total revenues CHF 51 282 m 100%

VAT35.3%

Direct federal tax23.8%

Withholding tax 7.8%

Other revenues7.3%

Mineral oil tax9.7%

Import duty1.9%

Stamp duty 5.3%

Other fiscal revenues1.9%

Tobacco tax4.0%

Transport levies3.0%

Social welfare27.5%

Transport15.2%

National defence8.9%

Agriculture and food supply

7.3%

Interest on debt and theshare of the cantons

19.9%

Foreign relations4.8%

Education and fundamental research

7.6%

Social welfare CHF 14 143 m 27.5%Transport CHF 7 806 m 15.2%National defence CHF 4 576 m 8.9%Agriculture and food supply CHF 3 771 m 7.3%Education and fundamental research CHF 3 925 m 7.6%Foreign relations CHF 2 466 m 4.8%Interest on debt and the share of the cantons CHF 10 216 m 19.9%Other expenditure CHF 4 500 m 8.8%Total expenditure CHF 51 403 m 100%

Revenue surplusOverspending

Other expenditure8.8%

19952005

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Developments in expenditure (CHF million)

ConfederationCantonsCommunes

JanuaryFederal Councillor Micheline

Calmy-Rey received the Chinese

foreign minister Li Zhao Xing in

Bern to discuss bilateral and

multilateral issues.

DETEC launched an action plan

to combat fine dust particles;

priority was given to the reduc-

tion of carcinogenic diesel ex-

haust particulates.

Around 5000 members of the

armed forces contributed to

security at the Annual Meeting of

the World Economic Forum in

Davos.

FebruaryDiscussions were held in Geneva

between representatives of the

Sri Lankan government and the

Tamil liberation organisation

LTTE. The conflict between the

two sides had escalated dramati-

cally in the prior months, despite

mediation efforts chaired by

Norway.

Following a Federal Council dis-

patch, supervision over banks,

insurance companies and other

financial institutions is to be

brought together under one roof.

The trend in the transfer of

transalpine freight traffic was

confirmed: more and more

freight is being shipped by rail;

the number of shipments by road

is falling.

MarchThe Federal Council adopted a

dispatch on adapting copyright

law to meet the realities of the

digital age. Works of literature

and art should be better pro-

tected against misuse, down-

loads from the internet for

personal use should be permis-

sible unrestrictedly.

April The foreign minister of Bangla-

desh, Morshed Khan, paid a visit

to Switzerland.

The Federal Council adopted a

dispatch on the Confederation’s

holdings in Swisscom. The main

point is an amendment to the

Telecommunications Enterprise

Act enabling the Federal Council

to sell its holdings.

The Federal Council announced

that it would not withdraw the

five centime piece from circula-

tion, but that the one centime

piece would disappear from

1 January 2007.

The head of DETEC, Moritz Leu-

enberger, pleaded at the interna-

tional energy forum in Qatar for

an extension to the Kyoto process

beyond 2012 in order to continue

efforts against global warming.

Federal Councillor Joseph Deiss

announced that he would step

down at the end July 2006.

MayForeign minister Micheline Calmy-

Rey visited Pakistan to appraise the

situation in the earthquake-hit

region of Balakot and the assist-

ance provided by Switzerland.

On 21 May all of the cantons and

the vast majority of voters gave

their approval to the new consti-

tutional provisions on the deve-

lopment of the education system.

At a special session, the National

Council decided not to open the

debate on the Swisscom bill. The

Council of States took the same

decision during the summer ses-

sion, thereby putting an end to

the bill.

The Federal Council passed the

dispatch on immediate measures

regarding the taxation of married

couples paving the way to correct

the unconstitutional unequal

treatment of dual-income mar-

ried and cohabiting couples.

At the request of DETEC, the

Federal Council decided on a

total revision of postal regula-

tion combined with further steps

towards liberalisation. The basic

provision of services would

nevertheless be assured.

Federal Councillor Joseph Deiss

and the US Trade Representative,

Rob Portman, signed an agree-

ment on the establishment of a

Swiss-US cooperation forum for

trade and investment.

JuneState Secretary Michael Ambühl

opened a consulate-general in St.

Petersburg. In 2006 Switzerland

and Russia celebrated a triple

jubilee: 190 years ago Switzer-

land opened its first diplomatic

representation in Russia, 100

years ago the two countries offi-

cially established diplomatic

relations, and 60 years ago offi-

cial relations were reinstated.

Federal Councillor Micheline

Calmy-Rey received a Lebanese

delegation led by Prime Minister

Siniora.

The revised FDHA film promo-

tion ordinance provides a new

orientation to Swiss film policy

by reorganising the scope of

tasks, criteria and the constituti-

on of the expert commission.

The Freedom of Information Act

entered into force. The change

from the principle of confidentia-

lity facilitates access to official

documents and enhances the

transparency of the administra-

tion as well as the trust of the

population in state institutions.

Anyone can request to see offi-

cial documents without having

to prove a particular interest.

While the Federal Council adop-

ted the dispatch on the harmoni-

sation of civil procedural law, the

bill on the harmonisation of cri-

minal procedural law is still

being debated by parliament.

The National Council decided to

introduce a CO2 tax on fossil

fuels aimed at reducing emis-

sions of this greenhouse gas, one

of the main causes of global war-

ming. A ‘climate cent’ has been

levied on petrol and diesel since

October 2005.

Parliament approved funding of

CHF 72 million for the 2008

European football champion-

ships which will be hosted joint-

ly by Austria and Switzerland.

Parliament approved an initial

part of corporate taxation

reform, which should simplify

succession rules in SMEs.

JulyA rockslide at the Eiger proves

that melting glaciers and climate

change do not stop at Switzer-

land’s borders.

A brief look back at the events of 2006

10

The revised film promotion ordi-

nance enters into force and lends

new direction to the Federal

Office of Culture’s film policy.

The degree of formalism in the

field of VAT is to be reduced and

legal certainty for taxpayers

increased.

AugustOn 1 August, Federal Councillor

Doris Leuthard took up office as

head of the FDEA.

Federal Councillor Pascal Couche-

pin presented a study on the fu-

ture outlook of the healthcare

market. Health should increasing-

ly be seen as a motor of economic

growth and not merely as a cost

factor. A proper balance should be

found between solidarity and per-

sonal responsibility.

The Federal Council set 1 Janua-

ry 2007 as the date for the entry

into force of the revised Internal

Security Act. It provides the

security forces with new instru-

ments in the fight against vio-

lence at sporting events.

SeptemberA new concept was put in place

for the federal government’s

finan-cial reporting; the first

document produced in this form

is the 2007 budget, which is once

again in the black following seve-

ral years of deficits.

Voters rejected the popular ini-

tiative on “National Bank profits

for the AHV” by a clear margin of

58%. Switzerland’s central bank

will therefore continue to pay out

two thirds of its profits to the

cantons and one third to the

federal government.

The revised Asylum Act and the

new Foreign Nationals Act are

adopted with around 68% voting

in favour and are intended to

tackle abuses of the system and

provide more targeted support

for the integration of foreign

nationals.

In prepation for November’s UN

Climate Conference in Nairobi, a

meeting of some 40 environment

ministers from around the world

was held in Rüschlikon. Presi-

dent Leuenberger launched the

idea of a worldwide tax on CO2

emissions.

Alongside the 2003 passport

model, the 2006 model was laun-

ched. This too is electronically

readable, but will only be issued

to those wishing to travel to the

USA without needing a visa after

26 October and not already in

possession of a 2003 model is-

sued before this date.

OctoberDuring a working visit to China,

foreign minister Micheline

Calmy-Rey was met by her

Chinese counterpart Li Zhaoxing.

The Federal Council decided to

acquire eight million doses of a

pre-pandemic vaccine and reser-

ve further stocks in the event of

a flu pandemic in order to gua-

rantee Switzerland a supply of

pandemic vaccines.

Parliament adopted the 5th revi-

sion of invalidity insurance. The

reform is intended to detect at an

early stage those incapable of

working and reduce the number

of new claimants as well as con-

tributing to the recovery of the

systems by means of savings

measures.

Parliament approved the creation

of an infrastructure fund so as to

provide resources for road and

rail projects in agglomerations,

cities and mountain regions.

Over CHF 20 billion will be made

available over the next 20 years.

Switzerland and Germany rene-

wed talks on flight approach

routes to Zurich airport. Trans-

port minister Leuenberger and

German counterpart Tiefensee set

up a working group to come up

with possible solutions.

The presentations put on by the

DDPS at the Olma in St.Gallen

and the ‘army days’ in Thun drew

hundreds of thousands of visitors.

Armed forces and civil defence

units took part in the tri-national

‘Rheintal’ disaster exercise.

NovemberOn 26 November 53.4% of voters

gave their approval to the Fede-

ral Act on Cooperation with the

States of Eastern Europe and 68%

to the Family Allowances Act. The

latter harmonises claims to fami-

ly allowances and sets minimum

amounts.

President Leuenberger opened

the UN Climate Conference in

Nairobi. He called for the intro-

duction of a worldwide tax on

CO2 emissions.

The cantonal Justice and Police

directors and the DDPS met to

regulate cooperation between the

police and the armed forces in

terms of internal security.

DecemberTwo years after the tsunami in

the Indian Ocean several of the

reconstruction programmes

financed by Switzerland in Thai-

land, Indonesia and Sri Lanka

are nearing completion. The fede-

ral government made a total of

CHF 35 million available.

The Council of States adopted

the dispatch on the further deve-

lopment of agricultural policy.

Federal Councillor Hans-Rudolf

Merz brought the budget through

parliament at the first attempt,

something that has not been

achieved since 1983.

The Federal Council submited

four taxation models for consul-

tation with a view to examining

whether married couples should

continue to be taxed jointly or as

separate individuals.

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