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Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis discusses multilateral cooperation and security in Europe with Slovak Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Miroslav Lajčák

16.05.2019 — Press release DEA
Mr Cassis, who is the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), has met Mr Lajčák in Bratislava during a working visit to Slovakia. Both foreign ministers highlighted the positive development of their countries bilateral ties and discussed the institutional agreement between Switzerland and the European Union (EU). Talks concerning multilateral cooperation focused on security in Europe and the work of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Mr Lajčák is the current Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE. Slovakia also currently holds the presidency of the Visegrad Group (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland) and will soon assume the chairmanship of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Brexit: Federal Council opens consultation proceedings on trade agreement between Switzerland and the UK

15.05.2019 — Press release DEA
On 15 May the Federal Council opened consultation proceedings on the trade agreement with the United Kingdom and on an additional agreement extending the provisions of the trade agreement to the Principality of Liechtenstein. The agreements are intended to ensure to a large extent the continuation of existing trade relations after the UK’s departure from the European Union.

European Innovation Council funding an interesting prospect for Swiss research institutions and businesses

25.04.2019 — Press release DEA
In Europe research results should be turned into marketable innovations more quickly. As part of its current Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (Horizon 2020; 2014-2020), to which Switzerland is associated, the European Union has taken the decision to enhance the funding opportunities available through the European Innovation Council. A high-level delegation from the European Commission today presented the EIC’s funding instruments at an information event in Bern, and set out how Swiss research institutions and businesses can benefit, especially SMEs.

Temporary agreement to safeguard access to the labour market even in the event of a ’no-deal’ Brexit

17.04.2019 — Press release DEA
At its meeting on 17 April, the Federal Council approved a temporary agreement with the United Kingdom on access to the Swiss labour market. The agreement will apply in the event of the UK’s disorderly departure from the EU. For a limited transition period, it would introduce simplified requirements for working in either country. In this way, the Federal Council plans to safeguard the interests of the Swiss economy with regard to the recruitment of British workers, and the ability of Swiss nationals to access the UK labour market.

State Secretary Hirayama at an informal EU ministerial meeting on research and innovation

02.04.2019 — Press release DEA
On 2 and 3 April State Secretary Martina Hirayama, Director of the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI, will be attending an informal meeting in Bucharest (Romania) of ministers of EU member states responsible for research and innovation. At this event, which takes place twice yearly, ministers will discuss how the EU can promote excellence and at the same time encourage broad participation in research and innovation.

Linking of the Swiss and EU emissions trading systems: CO2 Ordinance revision enters consultation phase

25.03.2019 — Press release DEA
On 25 March 2019, the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) opened the consultation on the partial revision of the current CO2 Ordinance. The amendment is needed so that the Swiss and EU emissions trading schemes (ETS) can be linked. From 2020, emissions from civil aviation and fossil power plants will be included in the Swiss ETS, as is already the case in the EU. Linking the two schemes would enable companies in the Swiss ETS to trade in the larger EU emissions market.

Safeguarding relations between Switzerland and the UK in the field of migration post Brexit

22.03.2019 — Press release DEA
At its meeting on 22 March the Federal Council took three decisions to safeguard good relations between Switzerland and the United Kingdom (UK) in the field of migration in the event of the UK’s disorderly withdrawal from the European Union (EU). Firstly the Federal Council opened consultation proceedings on the agreement on acquired rights, which has already been signed. It also adopted a revision of the Ordinance on Admission, Period of Stay and Employment (ASEO) with a separate quota for UK nationals. Lastly the Federal Council decided that UK nationals would be exempt from the requirement to obtain a visa to enter Switzerland after the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

Federal Council initiates consultation on amendments to AEOI legal basis

27.02.2019 — Press release DEA
During its meeting on 27 February 2019, the Federal Council initiated the consultation on the revision of the Federal Act and Ordinance on the International Automatic Exchange of Information in Tax Matters (AEOI). Recommendations of the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes (Global Forum) are thereby to be implemented.

Signing of agreement between Switzerland and the UK on citizens’ rights

25.02.2019 — Press release DEA
Switzerland and the United Kingdom are safeguarding the existing rights of their citizens for the time when the UK is no longer a member of the EU. As part of the Federal Council’s Mind the gap strategy, State Secretary Mario Gattiker and his British counterpart, Parliamentary Under-Secretary Christopher Heaton-Harris, signed an agreement in Bern.

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