All news (769)
Switzerland to strengthen its partnership with Austria at the consular level
03.12.2015
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Press releases
Europa
Didier Burkhalter, the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), met on Thursday with Sebastian Kurz, Austria's Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the margins of the 22nd OSCE Ministerial Council meeting held in Belgrade on 3 and 4 December. They signed a new consular agreement between Switzerland and Austria that will allow the two countries to step up their cooperation at various levels. In addition, Mr Burkhalter and Mr Kurz discussed a number of bilateral and international issues, including security in Europe and the Middle East, the migration crisis and relations between Switzerland and the European Union (EU).
Towards a single charger for mobile telephones
25.11.2015
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Press releases
Europa
Bern - From summer 2017, all mobile telephones sold on the Swiss market will be compatible with a universal charger. The Federal Council today accepted the revision of two ordinances on telecommunications and electrical equipment. It is a question of harmonising the technical requirements in Switzerland with those of the European Union.
Federal Council adopts dispatch on automatic exchange of information in tax matters between Switzerland and EU
25.11.2015
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Press releases
Europa
Today, the Federal Council adopted the dispatch on the agreement regarding the automatic exchange of information (AEOI) in tax matters with the EU and submitted it to Parliament for approval. The agreement was the subject of a consultation procedure from 27 May 2015 to 17 September 2015. Most of the participants welcomed the proposal.
EU recognises Swiss central counterparty regulation as equivalent
16.11.2015
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Press releases
Mission EU Brussels
Bern, 16.11.2015 - Switzerland's supervisory regime for central counterparties has been recognised by the European Commission as equivalent to the relevant provisions applicable within the European Union (EU). The equivalence decision provides the basis for Swiss central counterparties to access cross-border markets in the EU. It was published in the Official Journal of the EU on 14 November 2015.
Swiss Labour Force Survey and its derivative statistics in 3rd quarter 2015: labour supply – 1.1% increase in number of employed persons; unemployment rate based on ILO definition at 4.9%
12.11.2015
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Press releases
Europa
Neuchâtel, According to figures from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), the number of employed persons in Switzerland rose by 1.1% between the 3rd quarter 2014 and the 3rd quarter 2015. During the same period, the unemployment rate as defined by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) increased slightly in Switzerland from 4.8% to 4.9%. The EU's unemployment rate based on the ILO definition decreased from 9.8% to 9.0%.
Partners in Dialogue “Linking Food Security & Climate Change and the role of private companies”

09.11.2015
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Press releases
Mission EU Brussels
on Monday 9th November 2015 at 5.30 pm
at the Mission of Switzerland to the EU, Place du Luxembourg 1, 1050 Brussels.
Federal Councillor Johann N. Scheider-Ammann to pay working visit to Brussels
06.11.2015
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Press releases
Mission EU Brussels
Bern, 06.11.2015 - Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, the head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER), will be paying a working visit to Brussels on 10 November. He will attend a meeting of EFTA ministers with the European Union’s Economic and Financial Affairs Council. He will also hold talks with EU Commissioners Jyrki Katainen and Carlos Moedas. Central topics of this visit will be Switzerland and Europe’s competitiveness and the country’s relations with the EU.
Federal Councillor Schneider-Ammann on working visit to meet British Minister of State for Trade and Investment
02.11.2015
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Press releases
Europa
Bern, Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, the head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER), travelled to London on 2 November for a working visit where he met the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Lord Maude, for talks on reducing bureaucracy, the economic situation of both countries and of Europe, as well as bilateral economic relations. Relations between The relations of both states with the European Union were also a topic of discussion. In addition, the head of the EAER used the visit to London as an opportunity to officially launch a programme for start-ups and discuss European issues with a number of think tank representatives.
President Grybauskaité of Lithuania on official visit to Switzerland
06.10.2015
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Press releases
Europa
Bern - On Tuesday, the President of the Swiss Confederation, Simonetta Sommaruga, received the President of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaité, for an official visit to Switzerland. The talks focused on bilateral relations and European policy (for Switzerland in particular on progress with implementing the article on immigration in the Federal Constitution), on the situation in Ukraine and the refugee crisis in Europe. Switzerland and Lithuania have friendly relations and have become increasingly close in recent years.
New mandatory international OECD standards with regard to corporate taxation, including for Switzerland
05.10.2015
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Press releases
Europa
Switzerland supports international efforts to achieve greater transparency and a level playing field with regard to the taxation of multinationals. As a member of the OECD, it actively participated in the base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) project, the final outcomes of which were published today. The Federal Council has instructed the Federal Department of Finance (FDF) to deliver analyses and proposals for implementing the outcomes.
Soirée Suisse at the Jeux d'hiver
30.09.2015
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Article
Mission EU Brussels
On 30 September 2015 the three Swiss representations in Brussels – the Swiss embassy and the missions to the EU and to NATO – invite their contacts to a sumptuous gourmet Swiss reception.
Students at Swiss higher education institutions 2013: Analysis report – 17% higher education students from abroad
29.09.2015
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Press releases
Europa
Neuchâtel - The proportion of international students at Swiss higher education institutions is 17%. With 19%, the universities show a higher percentage than the universities of applied science (14%) and the universities of teacher education (7%). The majority of these students come from neighbouring countries and are more dependent on financial support from their families than domestic students. The Federal Statistical Office's new publication examines these and many other issues.