Cross-border agencies and government commissions

Agencies for regional cross-border cooperation have appeared at various points on Switzerland’s borders. Cross-border agencies have been created for the following regions:

• Upper Rhine
• Lake Constance
• Graubünden
• Ticino
• Valais
• Lake Geneva
• Jura arc

The federal government is generally represented in these organizations by the Federal Department for Foreign Affairs (FDFA) as an observer or a permanent guest. Their primary concerns are matters for which the cantons are responsible, such as transport, environmental protection, infrastructure and disaster relief.

Agreements between Switzerland and its neighbours are necessary for certain fields of cross-border cooperation. These agreements led to the formation of international government commissions. There are two categories of joint government commission:

• Consultative commissions: Based on international agreements, these generally govern regional topics and relations between neighbours in a border region. Their main function is to exchange information and formulate recommendations to the national governments. The joint commissions have no decision-making powers. There are currently two consultative commissions, for the Geneva and Basel regions. The FDFA provides administrative services.
  
• Special commissions: Based on bilateral treaties, these deal with specific, clearly delineated topics. They meet as and when required. The FDFA is a member of some of these commissions, of which there are about 40.