Switzerland

NATO-turbos at the ETH Zurich

The “Center for Security Studies” is calling for Switzerland to become more involved in NATO. Concerns about neutrality? None whatsoever.

by Michael Straumann*

(2 January 2025) Every year, the Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zurich [Federal Institute of Technology Zurich] publishes a bulletin dealing with Swiss security policy and the current challenges it faces. The security policy research centre was founded in 2002. Since 2004, it has maintained a “strategic partnership” with the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports (DDPS). It is therefore a think tank that is very close to the Swiss government.

International Health Regulations

Amendment or rejection

WHO regulations are designed to protect us – but do we want them?

by Dr. med. Sabine Vuilleumier-Koch

(29 November 2024) (CH-S) In May 2022, the WHO’s “World Health Assembly” (WHA) decided to adapt – or “strengthen” – the WHOs “International Health Regulations” (IHR). The reasoning attracted attention: The “corona pandemic” had revealed weaknesses in international “cooperation”, gaps that now had to be closed. Immediately, broad resistance formed. While the Federal Council and the “Federal Office of Public Health” (FOPH) see no problem in the amendments to the IHR adopted by the WHA on 1 June 2024, a strong opposition is calling for an “opting out”, a rejection of the amendments. The decision must be taken by 19 July 2025 at the latest.

Shrink UBS to size! Critical comments on the Swis

Critical comments on the Swiss mega-bank

by René Zeyer*

(22 November 2024) There is a lot that speaks for it, but one thing speaks against it: The greed of the Kelleher-Ermotti duo. Or are the two of them making a cucumber salad out of the state? UBS has become a monster bank after the incorporation of Credit Suisse at a bargain price. It is not only “much too big to fail”. With total assets twice the size of Switzerland’s GDP, it poses the greatest threat to the existence of the Swiss Confederation since the Second World War. Evidently, there is no awareness of this problem at the top management level – or it is being ignored deliberately.

Switzerland

Only UNRWA can aid the people of Gaza

Open letter to the Council of States

(8 November 2024) (CH-S) On 16 October 2024, the Swiss “Observatory for Ethics and Humanitarian Health” (OESH)* sent a letter to all members of the Council of States, calling on them to reverse the National Council’s decision to cut subsidies to UNRWA. The Monitoring Agency also endeavours to preserve Switzerland’s humanitarian tradition and its positive influence in the world.

“Sky Shield” and Switzerland

The ties with NATO being pushed forward

by Jean-Paul Vuilleumier, Editor-in-Chief of “Swiss Standpoint”

(8 November 2024) On 10 April 2024, the Swiss Federal Council decided to join the “European Sky Shield Initiative” (ESSI) and authorised the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) to sign the declaration of accession. On 17 October 2024, the Swiss Armaments Director Urs Loher signed the official document to this effect. The people and the cantons had no opportunity to express their views on this.

With this new step towards NATO, our seven-member government council is allowing the further erosion of our country’s neutrality and sovereignty.

Is Switzerland mutating into a “city-state”?

Correcting blatant political misjudgement

by Hans Bieri, managing director of SVIL,* Zurich

(1 November 2024) (CH-S) On 9 October 2024, the consultation on the ordinance to the Spatial Planning Act 2 (SPA 2) adopted by the Federal Assembly ended. This ordinance decides what Switzerland will look like in the future outside the building zones and how its areas will be used. Was this a media topic? Hardly.