Minimums Contemplated For Shopping Tourism in Germany; Bitcoin ATM Comes to Basel; UEFA Championship Game Almost Left Basel; Design Prize Kudos For Basel

News For 6 October 2015   For those shopping across the border in Germany, they may be well served to pay attention to a new political initiative in Germany.  Green and SPD party members of the Parliament there have proposed that a minimum purchase of 100 Euros be imposed for eligibility to recover the VAT spent while shopping in Germany.  The initiative is a reaction to government audits of operations which have revealed that at least 150 German customs officials are employed at border crossings between Germany and Switzerland.  While this hardly seems like a large number, the austere mood of German politicians has them looking for savings wherever they may be found.  At stake are 6 million euros that might be saved annually by reducing the headcount of officers that simply stamp the green VAT forms.  The initiative has its detractors however, most specifically amongst the SudBaden trade group which represents German small business owners that would be negatively impacted by reduced numbers of shoppers from nearby Swiss communities.  The SudBaden group also furnished estimates to the debate, saying 11,500 jobs would be lost to the reduction in the number of Swiss customers.  The debate has caused a positive outcome in that the customs infrastructure in the German communities along the Swiss borders near Basel are already evaluating an automated system for stamping the green VAT forms which should ease the queues on shopping days.   ****************************   The newest Bitcoin ATM machine to arrive in the region will be installed at Basel's University of Art and Design.  As part of this semester's theme focused on "the sharing economy" the university decided the machine would help accustom its students to the concepts embedded in the use of the cryptocurrency.  Students in the Master Studio Design program will explore ways Bitcoin can pioneer artistic practice and endeavors.  Bitcoin, as we all know by now is a digital currency, not issued by any government and managed by a decentralized and computerized payments system.  Along with the university, many global banks are exploring ways Bitcoin will influence and be a part of the way people trade and effect payments.  Professor Armin Blasbichler at the University is optimistic that Bitcoin technology will help inspire students at the school to create innovative applications and scenarios by being exposed to the technology.  So far very few vendors of real-world products accept Bitcoins in Basel.

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Dreams of the upcoming Europa League Finals being held next spring at the St. Jakobs stadium were nearly dashed.  The event's organizer, UEFA felt its specifications for television and media broadcast capability would not be met by city of Basel in time for the event.  The city has been planning a major reconstruction effort on the indoor arena St Jakobshalle across the street from the stadium which has threatened to reduce available infrastructure to broadcasters, infrastructure and staff offices required during the event.  UEFA became so concerned by this past summer, it threatened to move the event to Stockholm Sweden according to the Switzerland am Sonntag newspaper.  It appears however that both the city and the Swiss Football Association have come around to making the necessary accommodations, and a new external project manager has been hired to ensure the UEFA specs are met in time for the event.

*********************   Basel can take a bow for its design sensibility - 5 of this year's 42 nominations for the prestigious Design Prize Switzerland are to teams and projects from Basel.  The competition was fierce this year as over 450 entrants hoped to win up to 15,000 francs for winning in a prize category.  The annual prize is selected and given by the Swiss Design Association.  Raphael Rossel, a member of the association and spokesperson for the Design Prize competition said this was the first time in the history of the prize that Basel based projects had so many nominations.  Even more striking is the fact that all of the Basel based nominees started their careers at the Basel College of Art and Design.  The nominees entries range from books to clothing to energy-efficient lighting.  Winners of the prize will be announced on October 30th.