Isolda Agazzi

Imports of the most polluting products are to be taxed under the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). No exemption is being contemplated for the poorest countries, even though they will be severely affected. Should Switzerland ever adopt this measure, it would have to make sure to put this right.

While billions in Afghan currency reserves are being managed in Geneva, civilians in Afghanistan are suffering from the indescribably precarious economic situation in the country. Shah Mehrabi, Co-chair of the Board of the Afghan Fund, is now calling for targeted disbursements.

A new regulation prohibits the import into the EU of the seven products most linked to deforestation. There must be no harm to small producers in the South.

In these times of crisis, former Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey finds that Switzerland's diplomacy lacks a clear stance. As guarantor of the Geneva Conventions, Switzerland should step up its involvement in support of civilians.

Guy Parmelin, the Swiss Minister of Economic Affairs, announced on Sunday that he had reached an agreement in principle with India on a free trade agreement, negotiations on which had been going on for 16 years. Without giving any further details, he assured that the two parties had also reached agreement on the issue of patent protection, which had been the main stumbling block.

The election of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as President of Brazil has revived the subject of the EFTA free trade agreement with Mercosur – but the climate-related promises could prove to be greenwashing.

There is little evidence of a move towards peace in the context of the war in Ukraine. Perhaps because no one knows what "making peace" would mean in this instance.... Interview with Thomas Greminger, Head of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy.

The foundation set up in Geneva in September to manage USD 3.5 billion from the Afghan Central Bank is playing it safe – by doing nothing. Switzerland seems to endorse the American position.

The Energy Charter Treaty protects companies that invest in fossil fuels. A growing number of countries are withdrawing from it, while Switzerland continues to thwart the energy transition.