Well, from early projections it looks as if the Swiss like Romania and Bulgaria enough to let them into their labour market on the same terms as other workers from EU states. I’m not intimately familiar with Swiss politics, so I don’t know how the run up to the vote went, but it’s encouraging to see that the idea of allowing people to move around and work in Europe freely isn’t dead or dying.

An interesting referendum on allowing Bulgarian and Romanian citizens access to the Swiss labour market will be taking place tomorrow. It’s interesting because it will test whether the sentiments expressed in the UK with the recent strikes at the Total oil refinery are more widespread than they might seem (of course, other factors will also weigh in on the vote). Also of note are the potentially widespread consequences of a ‘no’ vote, which would terminate the bilateral treaties between Switzerland and the EU, and might threaten the state’s position in the Schengen Area.

Ho hum, it’ll be interesting to see what happens tomorrow.

Freezing War

After territorial games with underwater flags, and the opening of the once fabled North-West Passage, the EU is planning to make a first step into the issues surrounding the Arctic region. Commissioner Borg (Fisheries and Maritime) called for greater co-operation between Arctic states, to protect the polar environment, and deal with “the broader question of governance”. In a fairly diplomatic, and “we are the mature ones here” way, the Union seems to be trying to spin this move as having nothing to do with Russia’s moves to claim the North Pole, and the potentially vast natural resources lying around it under the sea-bed. I’m not entirely convinced this is the case.

Energy Efficiency

According to a report from the McKinsey Global Institute, large-scale energy efficiency measures alone, could result in greenhouse-gas emission reductions of one billion tonnes by 2020. The report suggests that efficiency measures are a more cost-effective way of reducing emissions, than alternative power generation.

UK

The Guardian has joined a number of media outlets in covering Robin’s decision to step down from his co-convenorship in November, and from his parliamentary seat at the next Scottish general election in 2011.

Ireland

The Irish Green ministers are feeling greater pressure from the party’s membership, with concerns that they are too close to Fianna Fáil. Their coalition partner’s love of road building, coupled with stresses on the budget, mean that green measures are often being put to one side.

Czech Republic

A Green MP in the Czech Republic has become the target of attempted blackmail from a fellow MP. Olga Zubová was targeted by Jan Morava, in an attempt to force her to toe the official line of the government, of which the Greens are a part. The story was reported on Radio Praha with these almost boasting words: “We believe this is a first grade political scandal which comes close to some big scandals in Western Europe”. From what I can tell, this comes as there are wider splits within the party in the Czech Republic.

United States

General Motors has unveiled its new plug-in electric-hybrid car, the Chevy Volt. Exhibiting the same ‘plasticky’ interior that seems to be standard issue for US cars, it remains to be seen whether the Hummers new stable-mate will last, or whether a new “Who Killed The Electric Car” film will need to be made.

And talking of the Hummer, Young Greens in Switzerland have successfully campaigned for a referendum on whether to ban highly polluting cars. The referendum would take place under the form of direct democracy in which referenda can be forced if citizens can gather enough signatures.