Exchange of tax information: and the consequences?
Michel Y. Dérobert, Executive Director
On March 13th 2009 Switzerland announced that, in the future, it will be willing to apply the OECD's Model Tax Convention standard for the exchange of information. This decision was taken practically simultaneously by all the other countries having not yet implemented this standard. It will modify the coverage of banking secrecy with regard to fiscal matters, at least for the nationals of countries with which Switzerland will have amended the double taxation treaties to include the exchange of information. This article retraces the circumstances which led to the Federal Council's change of policy, explaining the consequences it will have as well as discussing the accompanying measures which will need to be adopted for the financial centre to remain attractive.
New migration: Switzerland caught between brain gain and fear of losing its identity
Xavier Comtesse, Director Romandie, Avenir Suisse
The Swiss voters having again displayed their clear support in favour of the bilateral approach with the European Union and the free movement of persons, we asked Xavier Comtesse, head of the French-speaking section of the "Avenir Suisse" think tank, to write about their publication dedicated to new immigration, entitled "Die neue Zuwanderung – die Schweiz zwischen Brain-Gain und Überfremdungsangst".
