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Act like you mean it
02.06.2015
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Article
Mission EU Brussels
Authenticity of emotion: lectureperformance on acting and the brain based on William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet
Countdown running: Exactly a year to the opening of the Gotthard base tunnel
01.06.2015
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Press releases
Europa
In a year’s time, the Gotthard base tunnel will be inaugurated. At 57 kilometres in length, it will be the world’s longest tunnel. Today in Lucerne, transport minister Doris Leuthard started the countdown to the ceremony. On 1 June 2016, the official state occasion will take place, and the following weekend, a large-scale celebration will be held to thank the public.
Official meeting between Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter and Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni in Bern
28.05.2015
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Press releases
Europa
Didier Burkhalter, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, received Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni for official talks in Bern today, and praised the excellent relations between the two countries. Among the topics discussed by Mr Burkhalter and Mr Gentiloni were Expo Milano 2015, the opening of the Gotthard base tunnel in 2016 and the significance of the New Transalpine Rail Link, progress made on fiscal and financial matters, and Switzerland's policy on the EU. The two ministers also discussed international matters, specifically migration policy and the situation in North Africa and the Middle East.
Agreement between Switzerland and EU for automatic exchange of information in tax matters: signing and consultation
27.05.2015
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Press releases
Mission EU Brussels
Bern, 27.05.2015 - During its meeting today, the Federal Council initiated the consultation on the agreement with the EU regarding the automatic exchange of information in tax matters. The agreement was signed in the morning in Brussels. Switzerland and the 28 EU member states intend to collect account data from 2017 onward and exchange it from 2018 once the necessary legal basis has been created. By implementing the global standard, Switzerland and the EU will make an important contribution to the prevention of tax evasion. This dovetails with the Federal Council's financial market policy, which supports internationally compliant taxation.
Official visit to Bern by Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Charles Flanagan
06.05.2015
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Press releases
Europa
Bern, The Head of the FDFA, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, received the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Charles Flanagan, for an official visit to Bern on Wednesday 6 May 2015. Their talks focused on bilateral relations, the EU and Switzerland's policy on Europe. They also discussed cooperation within international bodies, particularly the UN, and the situation in the Middle East.
Record values despite a difficult environment
04.05.2015
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Press releases
Europa
In spite of the difficult environment in the wake of the adoption of the immigration initiative, the ETH Domain was able to successfully fulfil the mandate of the Federal Council and Parliament. The attraction of the two Federal Institutes of Technology in Zurich and Lausanne continues unabated: with more than 28,500 students and doctoral students, a new record value was reached in 2014. In terms of knowledge and technology transfer, the ETH Domain with ETH Zurich, EPFL and the four research institutes PSI, WSL, Empa and Eawag also climbed record heights. However, if the ETH Domain is expected to be able to fulfil its mandate for the benefit of Switzerland as a centre of knowledge and industry, it is absolutely dependent on optimal parameters. These include planning security, stable basic funding and international openness.
French President François Hollande on state visit to Switzerland
15.04.2015
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Press releases
Europa
President Simonetta Sommaruga welcomed French President François Hollande to Bern on a two-day state visit – it is the first visit by a French president to Switzerland since 1998. EU policy, cooperation on international issues and economic relations are among the key topics to be addressed during President Hollande’s visit.
Switzerland and Greece have resumed tax discussions
26.03.2015
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Press releases
Europa
Today in Athens, State Secretary Jacques de Watteville and the Greek Minister of State Nikos Pappas resumed the discussions on unresolved tax issues which had been suspended a year ago. Switzerland and Greece wish to strengthen cooperation to combat tax crime. Within this framework, both sides discussed particularly the preparation of the planned automatic exchange of information from 2017/2018.
Cross-border Commuter Statistics 2014 – Growth in the number of cross-border commuters in 2014 slightly dampened
23.03.2015
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Press releases
Europa
Neuchâtel, 23.03.2015 - (FSO) - The number of foreign cross-border commuters working in Switzerland increased by 8600 persons (+3.1%) in 2014. Just over half of the cross-border commuters (52.4%) were resident in France, around a quarter (23.7%) were resident in Italy and a fifth in Germany (20.4%). In Ticino, the proportion of commuters out of all employed persons was highest at 26.2%. These are the findings of the Cross-border Commuter Statistics, conducted by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) on a quarterly basis.
Switzerland and EU initial agreement on automatic exchange of information in tax matters
19.03.2015
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Press releases
Mission EU Brussels
Bern, 19.03.2015 - Today in Brussels, Switzerland and the EU initialled an agreement regarding the introduction of the global standard for the automatic exchange of information in tax matters. Switzerland and the 28 EU member states intend to collect account data from 2017 and exchange it from 2018 once the necessary legal basis has been created. By implementing the global standard, Switzerland and the EU will make an important contribution to the prevention of tax evasion.
Switzerland admitted to phase 2 of Global Forum peer review
16.03.2015
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Press releases
Europa
Switzerland has been admitted to phase 2 of the peer review. Such was the conclusion of the Global Forum in its report published today on the statutory framework necessary for Switzerland for administrative assistance in tax matters. The decision recognises Switzerland's efforts to comply with the international standard for the exchange of information upon request. Phase 2 of the peer review on the practical implementation of Switzerland's system should start in the fourth quarter of 2015.
First working visit to Bern by Polish Foreign Minister Grzegorz Schetyna
26.02.2015
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Press releases
Europa
Bern, 26.02.2015 - Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter received his Polish counterpart, Grzegorz Schetyna, today in Bern. Their talks focused on bilateral relations one year after the adoption of a joint declaration on closer cooperation, Switzerland's enlargement contribution to reduce economic and social disparities in the enlarged European Union (EU), and the two countries' relations with the EU.