The President of the Swiss Confederation, Didier Burkhalter, meets the Maltese Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr George W. Vella

04.11.2014 — Press release Europa

Bern, 04.11.2014 - The President of the Swiss Confederation and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) met the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Malta on Tuesday for an official working visit at the Watteville House in Bern. The meeting was an opportunity to take stock of various international and multilateral issues and of the development of bilateral relations between Switzerland and Malta. A memorandum of understanding was signed.

Optimierung Flankierende Massnahmen: Schulung für Vollzugsorgane

03.11.2014 — Press release Europa

French President François Hollande to pay a state visit to Switzerland in 2015

30.10.2014 — Europa
During President Didier Burkhalter’s working visit to Paris on Thursday, the French president, François Hollande, accepted the Federal Council’s invitation to pay a state visit to Switzerland. The visit will take place next year. During their discussions, the two presidents addressed the status of Basel-Mulhouse airport. Mr Burkhalter and Mr Hollande stressed the importance of the airport’s binational character for the region as a whole.

Federal Council approves the Horizon 2020 package

22.10.2014 — Europa
In its meeting today, the Federal Council approved the agreement on Switzerland’s participation in the Horizon 2020 research programme. The agreement covers Switzerland’s partial association to the programme between 15 September 2014 and 31 December 2016. It allows researchers from Switzerland to take full part in selected parts of Horizon 2020 and to apply for the sought-after grants provided by the European Research Council. The agreement provides for Switzerland’s full association to Horizon 2020 between 2017 and 2020, provided a solution can be found to the issue of the free movement of persons.

British Minister of State for Europe, David Lidington, pays visit to Bern

22.10.2014 — Press release Europa
Relations between Switzerland and the United Kingdom, the activities of the OSCE, the situation in Ukraine and policy on the EU took centre-stage at the talks between the British Minister of State for Europe, David Lidington, and the President of the Confederation, Didier Burkhalter, who received his guest on Wednesday for a working lunch at the Von Wattenwyl House.

British Minister of State for Europe, David Lidington, pays visit to Bern

22.10.2014 — Press release EDA
Relations between Switzerland and the United Kingdom, the activities of the OSCE, the situation in Ukraine and policy on the EU took centre-stage at the talks between the British Minister of State for Europe, David Lidington, and the President of the Confederation, Didier Burkhalter, who received his guest on Wednesday for a working lunch at the Von Wattenwyl House.

Switzerland and EU member states sign understanding on business taxation

14.10.2014 — Press release Europa
Today in Luxembourg, Federal Councillor Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf and representatives of the 28 EU member states signed a mutual understanding in the form of a joint statement on business taxation, thereby putting an end to a controversy which has put a strain on relations between Switzerland and the EU for almost ten years. The signing took place on the fringes of the joint meeting of the economics and finance ministers of the EU and their counterparts from the EFTA countries.

President of the Swiss Confederation Didier Burkhalter receives Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev

13.10.2014 — Press release Europa
The President of the Swiss Confederation, Didier Bukhalter, received the President of Bulgaria, Rosen Plevneliev, on Monday 13 October 2014 during the latter’s official visit to Switzerland. Talks focused on relations and cooperation between Switzerland and Bulgaria, notably in the field of vocational education and training. The meeting, also attended by Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga, included discussions on Swiss policy on Europe, Switzerland's contribution to EU enlargement and various topical international issues, especially those related to the OSCE, which Switzerland is chairing in 2014.

Update of the agreement with the EU on the simplification of customs formalities and on customs security measures

10.10.2014 — Press release Europa
Today, the chairperson of the joint committee signed decree no. 1/2014 on the amendment of Annex I to the agreement between Switzerland and the EU on the simplification of customs formalities and on customs security measures. The decree was approved by the Federal Council on 8 October 2014 and entered into force the day after it was signed.

Optimierung Flankierende Massnahmen: Schulung für Vollzugsorgane

09.10.2014 — Press release Europa
Am 9. Oktober 2014 fand in Gordola im Kanton Tessin eine Schulung für Vollzugsorgane der Flankierenden Massnahmen (FlaM) statt. Bundesrat Johann N. Schneider-Ammann sicherte den Vollzugsorganen im Rahmen der Veranstaltung Unterstützung zu. Regierungsrat Paolo Beltraminelli überbrachte die Grussworte der Tessiner Regierung.

Automatic exchange of information in tax matters: Federal Council adopts negotiation mandates with partner states

08.10.2014 — Europa
During its meeting today, the Federal Council adopted definitive negotiation mandates for introducing the new global standard for the automatic exchange of information in tax matters with partner states. The competent parliamentary committees and the cantons were consulted on the mandates in recent months. Negotiations with partner states should commence shortly.

Unofficial talks between State Secretary Mauro Dell’Ambrogio and Robert-Jan Smits, Director-General for Research at the European Commission

11.07.2014 — Press release EDA
Unofficial talks regarding Switzerland's participation in the Horizon 2020 research programme took place on the fringes of a visit by the European Commission's Director-General for Research and Innovation, Robert-Jan Smits, to CERN in Geneva on 10 July. No official proposal has been made by the European Commission on Switzerland's renewed participation.

Visit by the President of the Swiss Confederation to Kuwait underlines intensification of relations

28.11.2016 — Press release Europa

Bern, - On Monday, 28 November, President Johann N. Schneider-Ammann was received for a state visit by Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Kuwait’s head of state. The visit by the Swiss president forms part of an intensified series of diplomatic visits to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Kuwait which began in 1966. The official talks focused on bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries at international level. At the weekend, the president attended the Francophonie Summit in Madagascar where he also met with a number of heads of state on the fringes of the conference, including French President François Hollande.        

Federal Council adopts Ordinance on International Automatic Exchange of Information in Tax Matters

23.11.2016 — Press release Europa
During its meeting on 23 November 2016, the Federal Council adopted the Ordinance on International Automatic Exchange of Information in Tax Matters. The ordinance will enter into force on 1 January 2017. The proposal met with widespread approval in the consultation.

Polish President Andrzej Duda pays official visit to Switzerland

14.11.2016 — Press release Europa
On Monday, 14 November, President Johann N. Schneider-Ammann received Polish President Andrzej Duda in Bern for an official visit. The official talks, attended by two further members of the Federal Council, focused on bilateral relations and also covered European and economic policy issues. In connection with the theme of dual-track vocational education and training, the two presidents later visited a local business.

Withholding tax agreement with Austria to be terminated

11.11.2016 — Press release Europa
The withholding tax agreement between Switzerland and Austria will be terminated on 1 January 2017. The agreement between Switzerland and the EU on the automatic exchange of information in tax matters will enter into force on that date. On 11 November 2016, Switzerland and Austria signed a corresponding agreement in Bern to ensure a smooth transition between the two models.

Visit of the Kosovar Minister of Foreign Affairs: focus on stability

09.11.2016 — Press release Europa
Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Didier Burkhalter, received today his Kosovar counterpart Enver Hoxhaj in Bern as part of an official visit. The two ministers addressed a number of questions related to the close bilateral relations between Switzerland and Kosovo, specifically from the perspective of the two countries' mutual interests in migration and development cooperation. The agenda also featured both the regional context – relations with neighbouring states and the normalisation of relations with Serbia – and international and multilateral issues.

Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer attends meeting of EU and EFTA economics and finance ministers in Brussels

08.11.2016 — Press release Europa
On Tuesday, 8 November 2016, Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer attended the annual meeting of the economics and finance ministers of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the European Union (EU), the so-called Joint ECOFIN, in Brussels. The meeting focused on investing activity in Europe.

Tax system for EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse: agreement initialled between Switzerland and France

04.11.2016 — Press release Europa
During political consultations between France and Switzerland, State Secretary of the FDFA, Yves Rossier, and the General Secretary of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development, Christian Masset, have initialled the text of an intergovernmental agreement on the tax system applying to EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse (EAP).

Norwegian Foreign Minister Børge Brende makes official visit to Switzerland

24.10.2016 — Press release Europa
President of the Swiss Confederation Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, and Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard received Norway's Foreign Minister Børge Brende for working meetings on 24 October 2016. The talks focused on bilateral political and economic relations and European policy. Further topics were cooperation between Switzerland and Norway in international forums such as the UN and issues in connection with current international events. Foreign Minister Brende also made a courtesy visit to Christa Markwalder, President of the National Council.

Slovak President Andrej Kiska pays official visit to Switzerland

21.10.2016 — Press release Europa
The Slovak president, Andrej Kiska, arrived in Switzerland for an official visit on Friday, 21 October. In the morning he toured the ETH Zurich with President Johann N. Schneider-Ammann. Later the Slovak president was received with military honours at the Lohn country residence. The official talks focused on the themes of European policy and bilateral relations, particularly from an economic perspective, and also covered education, research and innovation. Slovakia currently holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer receives Slovakian Finance Minister

19.10.2016 — Press release Europa
This afternoon, Finance Minister Ueli Maurer received his Slovakian counterpart, Peter Kažimír, in Bern. The talks focused on an exchange on the macroeconomic situation in Europe and the most important international financial and tax issues.

Federal Council receives Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa

17.10.2016 — Press release Europa
On Monday, 17 October, President Johann N. Schneider-Ammann greeted Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in Geneva at the start of his state visit to Switzerland. The two presidents then went on to visit the Campus Biotech research centre. In the afternoon Portugal’s head of state was received by the full Federal Council in Bern. The main themes covered during the official discussions included cooperation in the fields of education and research, energy, environmental and climate policy, and European policy issues.

Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter receives Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström

11.10.2016 — Press release Europa
Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) Didier Burkhalter received the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström for a working visit today. The talks, held at Hôtel DuPeyrou in Neuchâtel, covered bilateral relations and EU policy. Cooperation between Switzerland and Sweden in international forums and topical international issues were also on the agenda for discussion.

EU and Swiss regulators sign confidentiality arrangement

22.07.2015 — Article Europa

Arrangements will improve oversight of medicines for better protection of public and animal health.

Contribution to the enlarged EU: signing of bilateral framework agreement with Croatia

30.06.2015 — Europa
On 30 June 2015 in Zagreb, Switzerland and Croatia signed the bilateral framework agreement which regulates the substance and implementation of the Swiss enlargement contribution to Croatia. Switzerland has allocated CHF 45 million to support projects in Croatia, in particular in the fields of water treatment, supply of drinking water, research and vocational education and training.

Popular vote Ecopop

30.11.2014 — Article Europa

In a popular vote held on 30 November 2014, 74.1% of the Swiss people and all the cantons have rejected the popular initiative «Stop overpopulation – safeguard our natural environment» (Ecopop initiative).

Switzerland takes further step towards introduction of automatic exchange of information

19.11.2014 — Europa
Today, the Federal Council approved a declaration on Switzerland joining the multilateral agreement on the automatic exchange of information in tax matters. This international agreement, which was developed within the framework of the OECD, forms a basis for the future introduction of the cross-border automatic exchange of information. The question regarding the countries with which Switzerland should introduce this exchange of data is not affected by the signing of the multilateral agreement; it will be presented to Parliament separately at a later stage.

French President François Hollande to pay a state visit to Switzerland in 2015

30.10.2014 — Europa
During President Didier Burkhalter’s working visit to Paris on Thursday, the French president, François Hollande, accepted the Federal Council’s invitation to pay a state visit to Switzerland. The visit will take place next year. During their discussions, the two presidents addressed the status of Basel-Mulhouse airport. Mr Burkhalter and Mr Hollande stressed the importance of the airport’s binational character for the region as a whole.

Federal Council approves the Horizon 2020 package

22.10.2014 — Europa
In its meeting today, the Federal Council approved the agreement on Switzerland’s participation in the Horizon 2020 research programme. The agreement covers Switzerland’s partial association to the programme between 15 September 2014 and 31 December 2016. It allows researchers from Switzerland to take full part in selected parts of Horizon 2020 and to apply for the sought-after grants provided by the European Research Council. The agreement provides for Switzerland’s full association to Horizon 2020 between 2017 and 2020, provided a solution can be found to the issue of the free movement of persons.

Automatic exchange of information in tax matters: Federal Council adopts negotiation mandates with partner states

08.10.2014 — Europa
During its meeting today, the Federal Council adopted definitive negotiation mandates for introducing the new global standard for the automatic exchange of information in tax matters with partner states. The competent parliamentary committees and the cantons were consulted on the mandates in recent months. Negotiations with partner states should commence shortly.

German Chancellor Merkel assures President of the Swiss Confederation Burkhalter that Germany will play a constructive part in the dialogue on EU policy

18.02.2014 — Europa
The President of the Swiss Confederation, Mr Didier Burkhalter, informed German Chancellor Angela Merkel today about the outcome of the popular vote on the mass immigration initiative and the next steps to be taken by the Federal Council to implement the new constitutional provision on immigration. Ms Merkel assured Mr Burkhalter that Germany would play a constructive part in the aspects of the discussions that touch on EU policy. The meeting with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier centred on the situation in Ukraine and the possible role of the OSCE, which is chaired by Switzerland in 2014, in defusing the crisis. Mr Burkhalter will travel from Berlin to Paris, where he will meet with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius this evening.

Fourth Round of Swiss-EU Negotiations on Linking of Emissions Trading Systems

09.07.2013 — Europa
The fourth round of negotiations between Switzerland and the European Union on the linking of their respective CO2 emissions trading systems was held in Zurich on 8 July 2013. Further progress was made at the negotiations. The aim of completing the technical negotiations by the end of the year was corroborated.