The Federal Council essentially confirmed the principles adopted in 1999 on which Switzerland's commitment to the IMF is based. These have been updated and adjusted to the development of the global economic environment over the past twenty years. They aim to maintain the consistency of Switzerland's position in the IMF and support its active participation in this organisation.
The Federal Council also adopted a report in response to the postulate of National Councillor Susanne Leutenegger Oberholzer entitled "The international monetary system and Switzerland's strategy" (15.3434). The report shows how Switzerland is committed to the relevant international institutions, and particularly the IMF, in order to contribute actively to the stability of the international financial and monetary system.
A stable international financial and monetary system is of great importance for Switzerland as a dynamic and open economy with a globally significant financial centre and its own currency. The report stresses that the IMF plays an important role in preventing and managing global economic and financial crises. Economic and financial openness remains a key factor for prosperity and growth, as well as a prerequisite for sustainable globalisation. It is thus important for Switzerland to continue to participate in the institutions of relevance for the international financial and monetary system in order to take advantage of the opportunities offered by globalisation and at the same time minimise its risks.
Grundsätze der schweizerischen Politik im Internationalen Währungsfonds(pdf, 46kb)
Vergleich der Grundsätze der schweizerischen Politik im Internationalen Währungsfonds (IWF) von 1999 und 2017(pdf, 176kb)
Bericht "Die internationale Währungsordnung und die Strategie der Schweiz"(pdf, 600kb)
Address for enquiries:
Anne Césard, Communications, State Secretariat for International Financial Matters SIF
Tel. +41 58 462 62 91, anne.cesard@sif.admin.ch
