I think that we now have a window for reform

The President of the Swiss Confederation evokes with "Les echos" records that she wished to address tomorrow with Nicolas Sarkozy. Will be the new world to draw in the g-20 financial architecture of the commercial decline of French companies in addition-Jura and the future of the Basel-Mulhouse Airport. Elle also explains how Bern responded to pressure from its neighbors in the fiscal, field is confident in the strength of the Swiss financial and looks forward to the European Agreement on the stabilization of the euro area.

You meet tomorrow in Paris Nicolas Sarkozy, what will be the most important subjects on the agenda

First financial architecture issues. As you know, the France will preside over the g-20 next year and we want to contribute to the debate on the new rules of governance of the financial sphere. I think that we now have a window for reform. This window may close one or two years. If banks begin to earn a lot of money again, then the interest in the subject will be blunt and political pressure falling. We must therefore act now, out of the incantatory and pass to the stage of concrete decision.

President Sarkozy and Chancellor Merkel expressed favourable, on 7 June, at a global tax on financial transactions. Are you on the same line

The problem is that all countries do not have the same views on the allocation of this new tax. The Sweden would like to finance a Fund for the future. The United States, they would directly reduce their public debt. As long as there is no common vision on the destination of this new tax, I do not see how the implement. That said, I would remind you that we, in Switzerland, a stamp duty. Banks have often asked us to remove it to better cope with international competition, but we have retained it.

How to explain the decline of the France from the second to the third place, behind the Germany and the Italy, in trade with the Switzerland

I have already talked with President Sarkozy to the phone. We must find a way to give a new impetus to trade flows between our countries. In my view, there is a problem with the establishment of French companies in German-speaking Switzerland. The French-speaking Switzerland and Ticino, which together represent 30 of the population, welcome the majority of French companies established in Switzerland. It would appear, then the latter have sentencing to conquer the German market. To be successful on the national level, these companies must cross the cultural and linguistic barrier that separates them from the German-speaking Switzerland. On the other hand, Italians are more competitive than the French in their costs. We export more to the France and import always less!

What are spot files seem you particularly important

I am interested much at Basel-Mulhouse binational airport. It has a large potential, because it serves three very dynamic regions, Alsace, the region of Freiburg in Baden-Württemberg, and the North of the Switzerland. Today, there is a real need to preserve the attractiveness, activities and the use of the airport and Swiss companies that are present. The convention which guarantees the functioning of the airport dates back to 1949. It must be adapted to the current reality, particularly in the areas of tax law and the right to work. These include safeguard employment. The airport and Swiss companies on the site are, with 6,000 employees, mainly French, the second employer in the region behind SAP. Investors, they are Swiss 80.

Will you also discuss taxation In April 2009, the OECD has placed the Switzerland on the grey list of the countries that do not meet its standards of information. How did you react

We have many hard to accept that we dealing with "tax haven" in the same way that some islands of the Caribbean, because we provide mutual administrative assistance for a long time to those who ask. Must still be that our partners use the instruments they have ratified with us! Only the Spain and the Germany reported us cases under the agreement on the fight against fraud... You understand that we were a little surprised by the violence of the attacks to which we had to face... To answer your question: March 13, 2009, the Switzerland decided to grant the international administrative assistance, according to the OECD standard. We have since signed, in total, 25 new so-called "double tax treaties", in which we do more distinction between tax fraud, i.e. falsification of tax data, and the removal of tax, i.e. the omission of statement. We are focused on countries that are "important", I mean by this heavy weight of the world economy. The Parliament has voted so far all the mandates that have been submitted. I fear not blocking on popular referendums, because the Swiss people accept to provide more help. We have proven our political determination to act quickly. And the OECD has removed us from the grey list.

The financial crisis, which has undermined the finances of many countries, increased European pressure on the Switzerland

Naturally, it is logical and legitimate. As our public debt is limited to 40 of the GDP, an enviable ratio for many of our neighbours.

Are you concerned for the Swiss financial centre

So far, not. Despite the crisis, we defended our rank of seventh world financial market. And it's good for Europe as a whole. I often say to my European counterparts: If you are weakening the Swiss, do you believe that Paris and Berlin to benefit No! London, perhaps, a little. But above all Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong! The Switzerland contributes to the attractiveness of the European square, with its qualified service, credible products, professionalism. We are often told that we attract savings only with bank secrecy. But in recent months we have seen an influx of billions of euros from the euro crisis worried investors, who saw the Switzerland a pole of stability.

What look you focused on the crisis of the euro, and its sometimes chaotic and disorderly management by the EU

This is not the Switzerland to make a judgement on the management of this crisis. We welcomed the support mechanism in the euro area, for a total of 750 billion. And including the involvement of the IMF. For us, it is he who has the competence, credibility, neutrality required monitoring of austerity plans negotiated in exchange for the aid granted. The Switzerland has an interest in a stable and credible euro. Through the IMF, precisely, it makes its contribution.

Find the full interview on lesechos.fr/interview