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Eckert, Elizabeth
4 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
Switzerland to the rescue?
The Swiss daily Le Temps discusses Switzerland's role in the gas dispute: "Switzerland is suddenly the surprise player in this difficult crisis between Moscow, Kiev and the European Union. Will our country have a hand in solving the gas conflict that has Europe quaking? ... The first request has come from RosUkrEnergo [the gas supplier founded by Russian and Ukrainian shareholders]. ... It - and not Russia - is the one that supplies Ukraine with gas, and Kiev owes it - not Gazprom - the unpaid 3.2 billion dollars. ... A second request has been submitted by a Ukrainian diplomat to the Swiss Federal Office of Energy as well as to the Secretary of State for Economic Development to explain the situation of the Ukraine and demand Swiss intervention. ... Political factors also play a role. ... As opposed to most European countries, Switzerland depends very little on gas. In addition, the Russians and Ukrainians seem to want to avoid having the European Union ... play the role of referee in their conflict."
» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » Energy, » Corporations, » Switzerland, » Ukraine, » Russia
All available articles from » Ron Hochuli
How to save the skin of Swiss cervelas?
"Cervelas and the little bread rolls made from rye and wheat that are imperatively called Bürli are crucial ingredients of Swiss identity. ... And yet here they are, both under threat from a common evil named globalisation", writes an alarmed Elisabeth Eckbert. "The Swiss sausage can only be made with a sort of skin made up of cow guts from Brazil. Alas, the mad cow disease has cast its shadow there and now Europe is banning all imported intestines from South America. And thus we are faced with the horrific prospect of a Euro 2008 [co-hosted by Switzeland] without grilled sausages. Bread too, is under threat, but not from any shortage, rather from a cross-canton standardisation since Pouly [a major industrial bakery] swallowed up nineteen bakeries [run by its rival] Alfred Polli. Bread is indeed multiplying, but it is becoming forcibly industrialised."
» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » Public Culture, » Switzerland
Switzerland defends its fiscal system
On Tuesday, February 13th, Brussels asked Switzerland not to provide multinational companies based on its territory with fiscal privileges. The journalist Elisabeth Eckert wonders if a new fiscal war is not about to break out. "Are we going to re-live the same tensions with Brussels as before with negotiations on savings and fiscality making an assault on bank secrecy ? There is every reason to believe so, as long as tax questions continue to shake up all the nations. ... The internal EU debate among the 27 Members is fraught, nervous even. And even if a code of good behaviour in matters of disloyal competition has been adopted by them, we are far, very far, from an ideal, harmonised fiscal dream. Then there is Switzerland ... The age-old recourse to a common enemy in order to smooth over our own weak points is well known. It is all the more blatant here where attacking Swiss cantons. Brussels is reinterpreting the 1972 free trade agreement between the EU and Switzerland despite its having worked well up until now."
» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Fiscal Policy, » Corporations, » Tax Policy, » Switzerland
The oil price hike
Journalist Elisabeth Eckert believes the rise in petrol prices is a "necessary electroshock". "Today, the profits of the big oil companies are at historical highs ... In 2005, thanks to the spectre of a shortage, Exxon Mobil pocketed 36 billion dollars [29.1 billion euros] in profits, which is to say a mere 80,000 dollars [64,800 euros] a minute ... And for a very good reason. Last year, the world's motorists consumed more petrol than ever before, including in Switzerland. Industries in the North and South have never operated at such a steady rate and nothing suggests - fortunately, of course - that this is about to end. Yet the price of petrol at the pump remains too low - even at two francs [1.30 euros] - in order for research into alternative energies to make any progress, or for habits to change. Much too low. Energy, like water or food, is a much too precious resource to be wasted."
» more information (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » Economy, » Global
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