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

17.04.2019 — Press releases Europa
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 releases Europa
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 releases Europa
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 releases Europa
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 releases Europa
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 releases Europa
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.



Quotas for UK citizens in the event of a disorderly withdrawal from the EU

13.02.2019 — Press releases Europa
The Federal Council aims to safeguard its close bilateral relations with the United Kingdom after Brexit. At its meeting on 13 February, it decided on arrangements for the admission of British citizens in the event of the United Kingdom’s disorderly withdrawal from the European Union. A separate quota of permits will be made available for British citizens who wish to come to Switzerland to work after 30 March 2019. The Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) will draft amendments to the Ordinance on Admission, Period of Stay and Employment (ASEO) by the end of March.



Switzerland and the UK sign trade agreement

11.02.2019 — Press releases Europa
The continuation of economic and trade relations between Switzerland and the United Kingdom after the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union (Brexit) is assured. Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin and the British Secretary of State for International Trade, Liam Fox, signed a bilateral trade agreement in Bern on 11 February.


Federal Council approves 2018 foreign policy report

30.01.2019 — Press releases EDA
The Federal Council approved the 2018 foreign policy report at its meeting on 30 January 2019. The report outlines Switzerland's main foreign policy activities in 2018, which centred on implementing the 2016–19 foreign policy strategy and Switzerland's good offices. The report on Switzerland's 2015–18 human rights foreign policy is annexed to the foreign policy report.


Ignazio Cassis meets Austrian Minister for Foreign Affairs Karin Kneissl in Bern

29.01.2019 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis met Austrian Minister for Foreign Affairs Karin Kneissl during a working visit to Bern. The two ministers underlined the excellent relationship between Switzerland and Austria and discussed a number of bilateral and multilateral issues, including the Middle East. Switzerland's European policy was also on the agenda.

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