Switzerland's History 12

Switzerland and the European UnionSwitzerland voted against membership in the European Economic Area by referendum in December 1992 and the maintenance and development of its relations with the European Union (EU) and European countries through bilateral agreements. In March 2001, the Swiss people rejected a referendum to start EU accession negotiations. In recent years, the Swiss have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with the provisions of the EU in many ways, an attempt to strengthen its international competitiveness. The economy is growing about 3% per year. Full EU membership is a long term goal of some of the Swiss government, but there is considerable common sense against the support by the conservative SVP party. Tend western French-speaking areas and in urban areas in the rest of the country to be more pro-EU, however, far from any large part of the population. 

The government has established an Integration Office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Economics. To isolate the negative consequences of Switzerland from the rest of Europe, Bern and Brussels signed seven bilateral agreements to further liberalize trade ties. These agreements were signed in 1999 and came into force in 2001. This is the first series of bilateral agreements was the free movement of people. A second series covering nine areas in 2004 and ratified since then. The second series includes the Schengen Treaty and the Dublin Convention. They continue to discuss further areas for cooperation.

In 2006, Switzerland 1 billion francs supportive investment in poorer countries of central and southern Europe to boost cooperation and positive ties with the EU as a whole. Referendum will be needed to approve 300 million francs to support Romania and Bulgaria and their recent hospital. The Swiss have also pressured the EU and sometimes international reduce banking secrecy and tax rates will increase to parity with the EU. Preparatory discussions are being opened in four new areas:. Opening the electricity market, participation in the European GNSS project Galileo, cooperating with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and recognition of certificates of origin for foodstuffs.On 27 November 2008, the interior and justice ministers in Brussels European Union accession of Switzerland to the Schengen passport-free zone from December 12, 2008. Land border checkpoints will remain in force only for movements, but should not carry out checks on people running, people entering the country who had their passports checked until March 29, 2009, when they Schengen country.

Energy, Infrastructure and EnvironmentElectricity is generated in Switzerland 56% from hydropower and 39% from nuclear power, with 5% of electricity generated from traditional sources, and as a result of network virtually CO2-free electricity generation. On 18 May 2003, the age of two anti-nuclear initiatives down: Moratorium Plus, an injunction against the construction of new nuclear power plants (41.6% and 58.4% against the support),and not Nuclear electricity ( 33.7% supported and 66.3% against).

Previous decade was the moratorium on building new nuclear power stations as a result of a citizens' initiative voted on in 1990 had passed with 45.5% vs. 54.5% Yes No votes. A new nuclear plant in the Canton of Bern is presently envisaged. The Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) the office responsible for all matters relating to energy supply and energy consumption in the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (detectors). The Agency supports the 2000-watt society initiative to cut its energy consumption by more than half in 2050.

On the 25 May 2011 the Swiss government announced that it intends to terminate its use of nuclear energy in two or three years to come. "The government has voted for a solution, because we want to ensure that security of supply and energy independent," said Energy Minister Doris Leuthard today at a press conference in Bern. "Fukushima showed that the risk of nuclear power is too high, there is also increase the cost of energy form." The first reactor is said to be taken online in 2019 and the last one in 2034. Parliament will discuss the plan in June 2011, and could also be a referendum.