Newsletter of the Embassy of Switzerland in Ireland
December 2011 - Ed. 02/11
Editorial
Dear fellow Swiss citizens
The current year has been a difficult one for Switzerland as well. Mostly so because of a reevaluation of the Swiss franc by 25%. Hence the National Bank decided to fix its parity to the Euro at 1 € = 1.20 CHF. But industry is still struggling, especially the export sector, and unemployment is gradually rising to over 3%. Fortunately the budget is balanced.
Micheline Calmy-Rey, President of the Swiss Confederation and Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs has resigned and will leave the Federal Council at the end of this year after nine years in office, always as Minister of Foreign Embassy of Switzerland in Dublin Affairs. During her long mandate Mrs. Calmy-Rey skillfully managed the relations with the EU and successfully negotiated the second bilateral agreement with Brussels, in 2004. Under her leadership strategic partnerships between Switzerland and emerging powers like Russia, India or Brazil have been established and the strong position of Switzerland as a mediator in international politics has been corroborated. Furthermore Switzerland’s role in the United Nations has been strengthened and public international law developed.
Next year we will celebrate the 1400th anniversary of the settlement of the Irish monk Gallus in the area of today’s Canton of St. Gallen, the tercentenary of the birth of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 50 years of the creation of a Swiss Embassy in Dublin and 10 years of Swiss membership at the UN.
The year 2012 also means that Mrs. Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, Minister for Finance, will be President and that our own ministry will have a new “boss”, Mr. Didier Burkhalter, a man from Neuchâtel.
Euch allen wünsche ich ein frohes Weihnachtsfest und ein glückliches Neues Jahr. A toutes et à tous je vous souhaite de bonnes fêtes et une superbe Nouvelle Année.
Beat Loeliger Ambassador
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Miscellaneous
Results of the Swiss Parliament Elections 2011
On October 23, 2011, 48.5% of the Swiss voters have elected the new Swiss parliament. Other than generally predicted, there was no shift away from the moderate parties towards those more radically positioned, left or right. There was, however, a shift from the traditional parties to the new centrist parties, the Conservative Democrats (BDP/PBD) and the Green Liberal Party (GLP/PVL). The results halted 20 years of steady growth by the Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC) but not the trend of decline by the Free Democrats (FDP/PLR) and
Picture: parlament.ch the Christian Democrats (CVP/PDC).
Elections to the Swiss Federal Council
On December 14, 2011, the United Federal Assembly was to elect the members of the Federal Council for next term of office (January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2015).
The elections were highly anticipated. Following the announcement that the current President of the Swiss Confederation and Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Micheline Calmy-Rey, would resign, the election of at least one new Federal Councillor was certain. In addition, there were various speculations circulating about the reelections of the six other members of the Federal Council, especially whether the Swiss People’s Party (SVP/UDC) would gain a second representative and whether the Conservative Democrat (BDP/PBD) Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf would be reelected.
Finally, all six former members of the Federal Council have been reelected. In addition, the Social Democrat (SP/PS) Alain Berset was elected as new Federal Councillor. He won the election in the second ballot with 126 votes (absolute majority: 123 votes). Moreover, Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf was elected as the new Pictures: nzz.ch President of the Swiss Confederation. On December 16, 2011, the Federal Council decided that Didier Burkhalter, the former head of the Department of Home Affairs, will become the new head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and that Alain Berset will lead the Department of Home Affairs.
Swiss culture meets Ireland
The Swiss-Romanian writer Catalin Dorian Florescu gave readings in Dublin and Limerick in October 2011 from his latest novel “Jakob beschliesst zu Lieben” (Jacob Decides to Love) which were great successes. The “born storyteller” (Neue Zürcher Zeitung) gave the audience a vibrant impression of “his genre picture of an archaic world with all its horror and beauty, cruelty and tenderness” (Der Spiegel).
On November 20, 2011, the fabulous novel was awarded the Swiss Book Prize (Schweizer Buchpreis) 2011. The Swiss Embassy in Ireland warmly congratulates Picture: florescu.ch Catalin Dorian Florescu on this prestigious award!
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Basler Fasnacht 2012
An upcoming event is the annual “Basler Fasnacht”, an unique blend of both traditional and actuality, taking place in the city of Basel from February 27 to 29, 2012. The largest “Fasnacht” of Switzerland starts on Monday morning at 4.00 a.m. (“Morgestraich”) and lasts 72 hours.
If you have the chance to stroll around, see the traditional masks (“Larve”), listen to the satyric poetry (“Schnitzelbängg”) and the sound of the “Guggen”, it is always a unique experience. Further information is available from the websites www.basler-fasnacht.com or www.fasnacht.ch.
Picture: basel.ch
2012 Rousseau for All
On the occasion of Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s 300 birthday on June 28, 2012, his city of origin, Geneva, has launched a major celebration: 2012 Rousseau for All. This project aims to recall the importance of the Geneva heritage in Rousseau's life and his fabulous work.
The project 2012 Rousseau for All will be an exciting event throughout the year in Geneva and elsewhere in Europe. There will be various events, from banquets to conferences, exhibitions, concerts and more!
For further information, please visit http://www.ville-ge.ch/culture/rousseau/eng- Picture: wikipedia.de lish.html.
Internship
As international law and politics have been my favourite topic since the beginning of my studies, the opportunity to work as an intern at the Swiss Embassy in Ireland is a great experience.
Having started in October 2011, I am enjoying very much gaining an insight into the manifold activities of the Swiss Embassy, working together with the Embassy staff and seeing what the everyday tasks of the Ambassador and the Consuls are. I was welcomed warmly and was happy to find such a friendly team atmosphere. I am always looking forward to seeing everyone, to chatting and joking in the 10
Picture: Swiss Embassy in Ireland o'clock coffee break!
So far, I have already learned a lot about Ireland, the Irish and Irish politics. Besides my varied day-to-day work, I am currently drafting a report about Ireland's exports in light of the current crisis – challenging but also quite fascinating.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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Swiss Community
Let’s meet!
This autumn the Ambassador, Beat Loeliger, and the Consul, Bernardo Rutschi, travelled twice to meet our compatriots. The first trip on 23rd September led us to Dundalk where the Swiss citizens of the counties of Louth, Monaghan, Cavan, Meath and Westmeath were invited. Only a little number of Swiss live in this area, and thus the event with ten participants was a very intimate one.
On the following get-together, the one in Galway on 28th October, some 35 people of the counties of Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Longford, Sligo, Leitrim and Picture: Swiss Embassy in Ireland Donegal were present.
As in all events which were held under the motto “Let’s meet!” the gatherings with the colony of Switzerland and Liechtenstein were twofold. In the afternoons the participants had the possibility to submit questions regarding consular issues, while the following cocktail receptions in the evenings gave all the attendees the opportunity to meet old friends, make new acquaintances and exchange views on different topics.
All the four events which took place in Limerick, Cork, Dundalk and Galway between November 2010 and October 2011 have been highly appreciated both by our fellow citizens as well as the Embassy. We will therefore look into the possibility of organizing similar events in the future.
Do we have your correct address?
Don’t forget to inform us of any changes of address, marital status, etc.
Incorrect or old postal addresses and e-mail addresses result in unnecessary extra work and costs. For example, the Swiss Review cannot be delivered to you and you miss important official announcements.
Please take a moment to read the relevant information on our website, or contact the Consular Section directly with any changes. The contact data can be found at the end of this newsletter.
Swissinfo.ch readies itself for the future
The board of directors of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), swissinfo’s th parent company, accepted on 28 June a new strategic plan for swissinfo.ch.
The online service will now focus mainly on readers abroad interested in Switzerland as well as the Swiss abroad. swissinfo.ch will offer background information on Swiss politics, the economy, culture and social affairs in ten languages, including Russian from 2013.
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Phishing
Fraudsters try on various occasions to obtain information concerning accounts and credit cards, as well as copies of taxpayers’ passports by sending e-mails. These e-mails use false sender addresses. Consequently the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) has been improperly listed as the sender in several of these e-mails. The FTA is now issuing a warning not to respond to these e-mails or ones of a similar nature.
Any FTA claims are sent to taxpayers solely by letter and indicate the file number. The FTA never makes enquiries about taxpayers’ confidential information via e- mail. Should you receive fraudulent e-mails, please report this to the FTA and forward the e-mails to the following address:
Kids Corner
To all kids: Santa Claus came all the long way from Switzerland to our Embassy in Dublin with a colossal bag of presents for all Swiss children!
We are delighted to offer to all children a colouring book with wonderful traditional pictures from the Valais region as well as Caran d’Ache pencils in the name of Valais tourism.
As many as you want! Everybody who is interested is very welcome to contact us!
Picture: Swiss Embassy in Ireland
Season’s Greetings
Time flies! The festive season is fast approaching. The staff members of the Swiss Embassy in Dublin wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year!
Picture: Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
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Contact the Embassy Embassy of Switzerland Phone: 01 218 63 82 6 Ailesbury Road Fax: 01 283 03 44 Ballsbridge Dublin 4 E-mail: [email protected] Ireland Internet: www.eda.admin.ch/dublin
Please note: The Newsletter will only be published electronically and will be sent to your e-mail address. The Newsletter is also available on our website: www.eda.admin.ch/dublin.