State Secretary Hirayama attends informal EU ministerial meeting on competition in research and innovation

22.07.2022 — Press release Europa
State Secretary Martina Hirayama attended the informal meeting of ministers responsible for research and innovation from the EU member states in Prague (Czech Republic) on 21 and 22 July. The event, which takes place twice a year, focused on two different policy debates, namely synergies in the funding of research and innovation in Europe, and possible measures in the area of research and innovation in response to Russia's military aggression in Ukraine. State Secretary Hirayama also held bilateral talks with the representatives from Romania, Finland, Norway and Lithuania.

Official visit to Greece by State Secretary Martina Hirayama to focus on education, research, innovation and archaeology

19.07.2022 — Press release Europa
On 19 July, Martina Hirayama, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation, held official talks in Athens with the Minister for Development and Investment, Adonis Georgiadis, and with the Minister for Education and Religious Affairs, Niki Kerameus. She also visited the excavation site of the Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece (ESAG), which has received federal support since 2008.

Personenfreizügigkeit: Zuwanderung dämpft Arbeitskräftemangel

07.07.2022 — Press release Europa
Die Auswirkungen der Covid-Krise auf den Arbeitsmarkt sind weitgehend überwunden. Der Wiederaufschwung hat in verschiedenen Wirtschaftszweigen Arbeitskräfteengpässe nach sich gezogen. Die Zuwanderung von Arbeitskräften aus dem Ausland hilft mit, diese zu entschärfen. Die Personenfreizügigkeit bleibt zur bedarfsgerechten Deckung der Arbeitskräftenachfrage wichtig, wie der diesjährige Bericht des Observatoriums zum Freizügigkeitsabkommen unter anderem am Beispiel des Berufsfelds der IT zeigt.

Switzerland and EU sign memorandum of understanding on second Swiss contribution

30.06.2022 — Press release EDA
Switzerland and the EU signed earlier today in Brussels a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the second Swiss contribution to selected EU member states. State Secretary Livia Leu, who was in Brussels for exploratory talks, signed the MoU on behalf of Switzerland. The signing of this MOU marks another important milestone towards a swift implementation of the contribution.

State Secretary Martina Hirayama in Brussels

28.06.2022 — Press release Europa
On 28 June, Martina Hirayama, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation, opened the SwissCore Annual Event in Brussels. During her visit, the State Secretary also held talks with Flemish Minister Jo Brouns and representatives of the Faroe Islands.

State Secretary Martina Hirayama attends Eureka Ministerial Conference

23.06.2022 — Press release Europa
Martina Hirayama, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation, attended the Eureka Ministerial Conference in Lisbon (Portugal) on 22 June. Eureka is an initiative of 47 countries aimed at fostering cross-border cooperation projects in market-oriented research and development independent of the EU’s framework programmes. State Secretary Hirayama also took the opportunity to talk with German education minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger, UK science minister George Freeman and South Korean deputy trade minister Soosung Hwang.

Confederation arranges for implementation of OECD minimum tax rate in Switzerland

23.06.2022 — Press release Europa
In order to implement the OECD/G20 project on taxing the digital economy, the Federal Council is proposing a supplementary tax. Based on the results of the consultation, the Confederation should receive 25% of the receipts from the supplementary tax and use the funds for the benefit of Switzerland as a business location. The remaining 75% will go to the cantons and communes.

President of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis meets the Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg in Stuttgart

23.06.2022 — Press release EDA
During his visit to Stuttgart, the President of the Confederation met with the Minister-President of the German state of Baden-Württemberg, Winfried Kretschmann. The meeting focused on Switzerland's relations with the European Union and their impact on close cross-border relations between Switzerland and Baden-Württemberg. The war in Ukraine was also discussed.

EFTA-Ministerkonferenz in Island

18.06.2022 — Press release Europa
Die Staatssekretärin für Wirtschaft Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch wird am 20. Juni 2022 an der Ministerkonferenz der Europäischen Freihandelsassoziation (EFTA) in Island teilnehmen. Hauptgesprächsthemen auf Ministerebene sind aktuelle und zukünftige Freihandelsprozesse sowie die militärische Aggression Russlands in der Ukraine, die seit Langem ein Freihandelspartner der EFTA ist.

Federal Council intends to step up exploratory talks with the EU

17.06.2022 — Press release EDA
At its European policy retreat on 17 June 2022, the Federal Council was briefed on the status of the exploratory talks between Switzerland and the EU. The Federal Council decided on this basis to step up the exploratory talks with the EU. It also took note of the final report on the removal of regulatory differences between Swiss and EU law. The scope for action and possible solutions identified in the final report will be taken into consideration in further exploratory talks with the EU.

Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová on a State Visit to Switzerland

19.05.2022 — Press release Europa
On Thursday, 19 May, President Zuzana Čaputová became the first head of state of the Slovak Republic to pay a State Visit to Switzerland. The Swiss government, headed by President Ignazio Cassis, welcomed the Slovak president at the start of the visit on Bundesplatz in Bern. Besides bilateral relations, official talks focused in particular on the war in Ukraine. Other topics on the agenda included European policy and climate and environmental issues.

Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová to pay state visit to Switzerland

13.05.2022 — Press release EDA
President Zuzana Čaputová of Slovakia will pay a state visit to Switzerland next week. Switzerland and the Slovak Republic share many similarities and enjoy a close relationship. President Čaputová is the first Slovak head of state to visit Switzerland and will be received with full military honours. The Federal Council hopes that the visit will further strengthen ties between the two countries.

Switzerland takes over EUREKA chairmanship from Norway

20.06.2014 — Press release Europa
The Delegate of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER, Bruno H. Moor, assumed Switzerland's year-long chairmanship of EUREKA, the European research initiative, at an event in Bergen (Norway) today. He set out the four priorities of the Swiss chairmanship. The focus is on strengthening institutional networking and on tailoring instruments to the needs of businesses involved in research and innovation.

Business taxation dialogue with EU nearing completion

20.06.2014 — Press release EDA
During its meeting today, the Federal Council gave the go-ahead for the initialling of a mutual understanding between Switzerland and the EU on business taxation. On the EU side, the Economic and Financial Affairs Council approved this understanding today. The business taxation dialogue between Switzerland and the EU is thus nearing completion.

Federal Council submits to Parliament dispatch on enlargement contribution to Croatia

28.05.2014 — Press release Europa
The Federal Council has submitted to Parliament its dispatch on the approval of a framework credit for an enlargement contribution of CHF 45 million to Croatia. Switzerland's commitment in Croatia is in keeping with the policy it has pursued in recent years with regard to the countries of Eastern Europe to support them in their modernisation efforts. This policy is in Switzerland's economic interests, and not only strengthens relations with these countries, but also helps to create jobs. The Federal Council had announced the framework credit on 30 April 2014, when a corresponding addendum to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the EU was adopted. Parliament has yet to approve the contribution. The money should then be committed to specific projects in Croatia by the end of May 2017.

Federal Council submits to Parliament dispatch on enlargement contribution to Croatia

28.05.2014 — Press release EDA
The Federal Council has submitted to Parliament its dispatch on the approval of a framework credit for an enlargement contribution of CHF 45 million to Croatia. Switzerland's commitment in Croatia is in keeping with the policy it has pursued in recent years with regard to the countries of Eastern Europe to support them in their modernisation efforts. This policy is in Switzerland's economic interests, and not only strengthens relations with these countries, but also helps to create jobs. The Federal Council had announced the framework credit on 30 April 2014, when a corresponding addendum to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the EU was adopted. Parliament has yet to approve the contribution. The money should then be committed to specific projects in Croatia by the end of May 2017.

Swiss-EU relations: negotiations begin on institutional issues

22.05.2014 — Press release EDA
Today in Bern the negotiations on an institutional agreement between Switzerland and the European Union (EU) have begun. With the planned agreement the Federal Council wishes to reconfirm and strengthen the bilateral approach, and so continue to guarantee Switzerland's prosperity and independence.

Flankierende Massnahmen: ein verstärktes und wirksames Instrumentarium

05.05.2014 — Press release Europa
Die Kontrolltätigkeit der Vollzugsorgane hat 2013 erneut zugenommen. Insgesamt haben die tripartiten und paritätischen Kommissionen die Lohn- und Arbeitsbedingungen bei über 40'000 Betrieben und 158'000 Personen kontrolliert. Dank verschiedener Verbesserungen auf Gesetzesebene und der Professionalisierung der Kontrollorgane können Lohnunterbietungen nun noch gezielter und effizienter bekämpft werden. Gleichzeitig mit dem Bericht über die Umsetzung der flankierenden Massnahmen hat das SECO am 5. Mai 2014 eine Standortbestimmung betreffend Gesamtarbeitsverträge veröffentlicht.

Concerted efforts for democracy and peace: President of the Swiss Confederation represents Switzerland at Council of Europe Ministerial Session

05.05.2014 — Press release EDA
The President of the Swiss Confederation and head of the FDFA, Didier Burkhalter, will be in Vienna on 6 May to attend the 124th Ministerial Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

Greek president Karolos Papoulias in Bern on official visit

02.05.2014 — Press release EDA
On Switzerland's invitation, the president of the Hellenic Republic visited the country on 2 May for the first time since diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Greece began 119 years ago. President of the Swiss Confederation, Mr Didier Burkhalter, and President Karolos Papoulias primarily discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and topics concerning European policy. Greece has held the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union since the beginning of the year which will last until the end of June. Against this backdrop, Mr Burkhalter talked about the Federal Council's intended next steps regarding relations between Switzerland and the EU. The vice-president of the Federal Council, Simonetta Sommaruga (FDJP), the Greek deputy foreign minister, Dimitris Kourkoulas, and the Greek minister of tourism, Olga Kefalogianni, also took part in the meeting.

Federal Council notes recommendations of Commission of Experts on market access for financial service providers

01.05.2014 — Press release Europa
At its meeting yesterday, the Federal Council debated the interim results from the group of experts for the further development of the financial market strategy on questions concerning international market access. The experts recommended various measures to secure market access for Swiss financial service providers abroad.

Federal Council seeks to strengthen competitiveness with corporate tax reform

30.04.2014 — Press release Europa

The information was corrected or amended after publication. (01.05.2014)

Bern, 30.04.2014 - The Federal Council has acknowledged the results of the cantonal consultation on the reform of corporate taxation. The reform is designed to develop the Swiss tax system further and strengthen competitiveness while taking international developments into account. Switzerland should remain attractive as a tax location and companies should continue to make an important contribution to financing the tasks of the federal government, the cantons and the communes. This requires legal certainty, which only an internationally accepted tax system can deliver. The cantons support the thrust proposed by the project organisation. The Federal Department of Finance will draw up a corresponding consultation draft.

The Federal Council takes steps to re-launch discussions with the EU on Switzerland’s participation in EU programmes and market access

30.04.2014 — Press release Europa
The Federal Council wishes to re-launch negotiations and discussions on Switzerland’s participation in framework programmes and market access. To that end it approved a declaration envisaging a number of measures. These include a solution to the admission under quotas of Croatian citizens to the Swiss labour market. In addition, the Federal Council confirmed the enlargement contribution for Croatia.

The Federal Council takes steps to re-launch discussions with the EU on Switzerland’s participation in EU programmes and market access

30.04.2014 — Press release EDA
The Federal Council wishes to re-launch negotiations and discussions on Switzerland’s participation in framework programmes and market access. To that end it approved a declaration envisaging a number of measures. These include a solution to the admission under quotas of Croatian citizens to the Swiss labour market. In addition, the Federal Council confirmed the enlargement contribution for Croatia.

Emissions trading scheme: acquisition of aviation data in 2018

02.06.2017 — Europa
The integration of greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation sector into the emissions trading scheme (ETS) is a necessary step in order to link the Swiss and European schemes. At its session on 2 June 2017 the Federal Council approved the Ordinance governing the acquisition and reporting of data from the aviation sector. In line with the intention of the European Union, it is only domestic flights in Switzerland or flights from Switzerland to member states of the European Economic Area (EEA) that are concerned.

Official working visit to Brussels by Federal Councillor Johann Schneider-Ammann

30.03.2017 — Europa
On 30 March Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, the head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER), met European Commission Vice President Andrus Ansip, who is responsible for the digital single market, and the Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmström. The main themes included cooperation in the field of digitalisation and bilateral trade relations, particularly updating the existing bilateral agreements.

Withholding tax agreement with United Kingdom to be terminated

14.11.2016 — Europa
The withholding tax agreement between Switzerland and the United Kingdom 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 14 November 2016, Switzerland and the United Kingdom signed a corresponding agreement in London to ensure a smooth transition between the two models.

Withdrawal of Switzerland’s membership application to the EU - EU's reply

26.10.2016 — Article Europa

EU's reply letter of the 19.10.2016 (PDF, 1 Page, 110.9 kB)

Swiss Government's letter of the 27.7.2016 (in French) (PDF, 1 Page, 216.6 kB)

Federal Councillor Maurer at meeting of German-speaking finance ministers

23.08.2016 — Europa
Today, Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer attended the informal working meeting of German-speaking finance ministers in Vaduz. He discussed current financial and fiscal policy issues with his counterparts Wolfgang Schäuble (Germany), Hans Jörg Schelling (Austria), Adrian Hasler (Liechtenstein) and Pierre Gramegna (Luxembourg).

Withdrawal of Switzerland’s membership application to the EU

27.07.2016 — Article Europa

Swiss Government's letter of the 27.7.2016 (in French) (PDF, 1 Page, 216.6 kB)

Federal Council adopts dispatch on automatic exchange of tax information with eight states and territories

06.07.2016 — Europa
Today, the Federal Council adopted the dispatch on the introduction of the automatic exchange of financial account information with Iceland, Norway, Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man, Japan, Canada and the Republic of Korea, and submitted it to Parliament for approval. The proposal met with widespread approval in the consultation.

Federal Council extends transitional periods for financial market infrastructures

29.06.2016 — Europa
During its meeting today, the Federal Council adjusted the Financial Market Infrastructure Ordinance. The transitional periods for financial market infrastructures were extended by a year in line with developments in the EU.

United Kingdom has voted to leave the European Union

24.06.2016 — Article Europa

The electorate of the United Kingdom has voted to leave the European Union in a referendum. The current regulations regarding Swiss citizens and companies will remain valid for the time being. A list of answers to frequently asked questions is available on the website of the DEA.

• FAQ Brexit
• Press Release FDFA: Brexit: FDFA Helpline offers advice for Swiss citizens

Everything ready for the opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel

01.06.2016 — Europa
With the gathering this morning of the one thousand randomly selected representatives of the public for the first trips through the Gotthard Base Tunnel (GBT), the opening festivities for the world's longest railway tunnel have begun. For the festival involving half a dozen heads of state and government, everything is ready. More than 2,000 individuals from the army, police, federal government, Swiss Federal Railways, AlpTransit Gotthard (ATG) and private companies are in action. In addition, 300 media professionals have been accredited from around 20 nations, including the USA, Canada, China, Japan, Kuwait and Chile as well as Switzerland's neighbouring countries.

Meeting of transport ministers in Lugano

31.05.2016 — Europa
Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard met the transport ministers of the Alpine countries today as part of the Zurich Process. The conference was held in Lugano this year to mark the opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel. Transport ministers from the Alpine countries meet regularly to discuss issues of transport safety as well as the modal shift policy. The presidency passed from Slovenian infrastructure minister, Peter Gašperšič, to his Italian colleague Graziano Delrio.

Switzerland to support the reform of the civilian security sector in Mali and Ukraine

13.04.2016 — Europa
Today, Switzerland and the European Union (EU) have signed two agreements on Switzerland's participation in EUCAP Sahel Mali, the EU's civilian mission for the reform of the security sector in Mali, and in EUAM Ukraine, the EU advisory mission for civilian security sector reform in Ukraine. These two agreements form the basis for the secondment of Swiss civilian experts to these missions.