Switzerland
Introduction
With a more then 700 years old history, Switzerland was founded in the 13th Century. On First of August, when History and Tradition meet to find their Origins, the whole Country celebrates the first alliances from the Villages around the Lake Lucerne, also known as the ‘Rütlischwur’ in Willhem Tell’s drama by Friedrich Schiller.
Switzerland, located in the very heart of Central Europe, has an estimated Population of 7.8mn habitants, and is therefore one of the smallest Countries within the European Continent. Demographically, the Statistic with Key Figures for 2010 shows a very healthy Proportion between Women (50.7%) and Men (49.3%), whereas the majority of persons with age between 20 and 64 (62.3%) (Swiss Federal Statistical Office, 2011).
The Swiss Constitution of 1848 is among the oldest one of the world and created the Foundation of the today’s modern state of Switzerland. The Federal System consists of the federal government, a total of 26 cantons (20 full and 6 half-cantons) and communes, whereas the two latter are largely autonomous and have a high degree of independence. Every Canton has its own Constitution and retains attributes of sovereignty, such as fiscal autonomy and the right to manage internal cantonal affairs. The Swiss Citizens are the Sovereign of the Confederation, which uses a system of direct democracy. The Sovereign is asked several times during the year to vote on different political issues. The seven-member Government, also known as the Federal Council or ‘Bundesrat’, holds the Executive Power (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, 2010)
In terms of Trades, the European Union and particularly its Western Members plays an important role in the development of the Swiss Economy, as it is the largest trading Partner. On the other hand, Switzerland is also a major and important Trading Partner for the EU, in particular for commercial services. In 1992 Switzerland signed the Agreement on the European Economic Area
With a more then 700 years old history, Switzerland was founded in the 13th Century. On First of August, when History and Tradition meet to find their Origins, the whole Country celebrates the first alliances from the Villages around the Lake Lucerne, also known as the ‘Rütlischwur’ in Willhem Tell’s drama by Friedrich Schiller.
Switzerland, located in the very heart of Central Europe, has an estimated Population of 7.8mn habitants, and is therefore one of the smallest Countries within the European Continent. Demographically, the Statistic with Key Figures for 2010 shows a very healthy Proportion between Women (50.7%) and Men (49.3%), whereas the majority of persons with age between 20 and 64 (62.3%) (Swiss Federal Statistical Office, 2011).
The Swiss Constitution of 1848 is among the oldest one of the world and created the Foundation of the today’s modern state of Switzerland. The Federal System consists of the federal government, a total of 26 cantons (20 full and 6 half-cantons) and communes, whereas the two latter are largely autonomous and have a high degree of independence. Every Canton has its own Constitution and retains attributes of sovereignty, such as fiscal autonomy and the right to manage internal cantonal affairs. The Swiss Citizens are the Sovereign of the Confederation, which uses a system of direct democracy. The Sovereign is asked several times during the year to vote on different political issues. The seven-member Government, also known as the Federal Council or ‘Bundesrat’, holds the Executive Power (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, 2010)
In terms of Trades, the European Union and particularly its Western Members plays an important role in the development of the Swiss Economy, as it is the largest trading Partner. On the other hand, Switzerland is also a major and important Trading Partner for the EU, in particular for commercial services. In 1992 Switzerland signed the Agreement on the European Economic Area