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Dear compatriots and friends,
It is a pleasure to write to you all for the first time in the Embassy’s bi-annual Newsletter. The festive season is a good opportunity to reflect on a busy period behind us, and to look towards the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in the coming year. Personally for me and my wife Nicole, 2017 represented a year of exciting change as we arrived in London in September after spending some years in Berne at the Foreign Ministry and in Geneva at the United Nations. Since settling here, I have very much enjoyed meeting members of the Swiss community across all regions of the UK. Over the coming years, I look forward to getting better acquainted with the diverse aspects of these islands and with many of you, who every day contribute to representing Switzerland in your very own ways.
As you can see from this Newsletter, the Embassy has been busy strengthening Switzerland’s ties with the UK over a number of areas. Naturally, the political dialogue with the UK on Brexit is at the top of the agenda, but our activities go far beyond this. They also include, for example, the promotion of trade and science cooperation, as well as hosting various cultural events. A particular highlight in the past months was the Swiss Ambassador’s Award Concert series, as it gave me the opportunity to visit Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast and meet with local representatives of the Swiss community in these diverse regions.
You can find more about the work we do in the articles below, and you can also stay in touch with developments by following us on social media. Not only is the Embassy present via our Facebook and Twitter channels; our Culture Section has a dedicated Instagram account and you can follow the work of our Business Hub on LinkedIn.
Together with my wife Nicole I would like to thank all of you for taking an active interest in the vibrant Swiss community in the UK and for extending such a warm welcome to us. We wish you and your families all the best for the festive season and a great start to 2018.
Alexandre Fasel
Ambassador of Switzerland to the United Kingdom
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| Ensuring continuity in the Swiss-UK relationship |
| The Swiss President Doris Leuthard (right) met the British Prime Minister Theresa May in New York in September. © FDFA |
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The UK’s departure from the European Union will have a considerable impact not only on the UK itself, but also on third countries such as Switzerland in general, and the Swiss community living in this country in particular. We are closely following developments around Brexit, and in implementing the Swiss government’s ‘Mind the Gap’ strategy, we aim to safeguard the existing mutual rights and obligations between Switzerland and the UK after the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and to strengthen the bilateral relationship in all common areas of interest.
Switzerland and the UK enjoy a strong relationship, which is evident from the impressive economic footprint the two countries share. For example, Switzerland as an export market for UK goods is significantly larger than India, South Africa, Nigeria and New Zealand combined. In services exports, Switzerland represents the fourth-largest market for the UK. This makes it more significant than Australia, Canada, India and New Zealand combined.
This close relationship that unites us is rooted in Switzerland’s many bilateral agreements with the European Union and the UK’s membership of the EU. Once the UK leaves the EU, this framework disappears from our bilateral relations. It is the Embassy’s task to help establish a replacement regime that will be effective on the day the UK leaves the EU. Since the Brexit referendum, we have been in constant contact with the UK government, and have helped the competent Swiss authorities to conduct and coordinate a dedicated dialogue to ensure continuity in all areas of our bilateral relationship – ranging from trade, transport, migration and education to research, data protection, financial services and the fight against fraud. These discussions also encompass the question of citizens’ rights: the Swiss government has engaged in a close dialogue with the British authorities to ensure continuity and the protection of acquired rights of Swiss nationals living in the UK (and vice-versa) under the bilateral Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons. On 11 December the UK Prime Minister wrote an open letter to EU, EEA and Swiss citizens living in the UK. In the letter, Theresa May pointed out that the UK is working closely with Switzerland to ensure that Swiss citizens living in the UK will also benefit from the arrangements between the UK and the EU. According to these arrangements, a new immigration system will be introduced under which all EU citizens will have to register for so-called ‘settled status’, which will presumably also apply to Swiss citizens living in the UK.
Be assured that we are intensively working not only to avoid a ‘cliff edge’ in our strong economic relations, but also to safeguard the “acquired rights” of the members of the Swiss community in the UK.
FAQ Brexit
Mind the Gap Summary
Prime Minister's latest Statement on Citizens' Rights |
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On 1 January 2018 the new Citizenship Act comes into force. The Swiss Review published an overview of the most important changes that may be of interest to Swiss citizens and their families abroad. More information |
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| Returning to Switzerland: what you need to know |
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Are you considering a move back to Switzerland? The dedicated FDFA website will assist you with the necessary preparations. More information |
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| OFFICE CLOSURE DURING CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR |
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The Embassy and the Regional Consular Centre will be closed on the following dates during Christmas and New Year. All calls to the Embassy will be diverted to the FDFA Helpline in Switzerland, direct number +41 (0)800 24-7-365 or +41 (0)58 465 33 33. |
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| New Swiss Foreign Minister |
On 1 November 2017 Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis took up his new post as Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and his seat within the Federal Council. The former doctor and MP hails from Ticino.
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| 95th Congress of Swiss Abroad |
| The UK Delegates (left to right): Vincent Croset, Nathalie Chuard, Loredana Guetg-Wyatt and Franz Muheim. © FOSSUK |
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The UK was well represented at the 95th Congress of Swiss Abroad. Read the Delegates’ Report and find out what issues were discussed at this year’s CSA. More information |
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| 10-franc notes from ninth series © SNB |
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On 18 October 2017 the new 10-franc note came into circulation. It is the third denomination to be released - after the 50 and 20-franc notes - in the ninth series, which has better security features and is of a smaller handier size. The design on the new 10-franc note focuses on Switzerland’s organisational talent, expressed through the key motif of time.
Banknotes from the eighth series remain legal tender until further notice. For more information on the ninth series and questions relating to old banknotes, please visit www.snb.ch. |
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| Ambassador’s Audience with Her Majesty The Queen |
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Ambassador Fasel was received in audience by Her Majesty The Queen on 22 November at Buckingham Palace, and presented his Letters of Credence as Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to the Court of St. James's. The ceremony at Buckingham Palace is the culmination of the accreditation process for new Ambassadors, and was followed by a vin d’honneur reception at his Residence. |
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| Bilateral Working Visit to London by Swiss MPs |
| The Swiss delegation at the Houses of Parliament. © FDFA |
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On 18 and 19 October, members of the Swiss Federal Assembly’s EFTA/EU Delegation undertook a bilateral working visit to London for the first time since the British electorate voted for the UK to leave the European Union. The visit focused on the UK’s ongoing Brexit negotiations with the EU, and concerned the bilateral relations between Switzerland and the UK. For an overview of the parliamentarians’ programme, see the delegation’s official press release. |
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| Celebrating British-Swiss Diplomacy on the Ski Slopes |
| Ambassador Fasel addressing Members of Parliament. Photo: Ski Club of Great Britain |
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As his first public function, Ambassador Fasel hosted a lunch reception at the Houses of Parliament to promote the 2018 edition of the annual British-Swiss Parliamentary Ski Week. It will bring together Swiss and UK MPs on the slopes of Davos for the 62nd time – surely a record among inter-parliamentary sports events! The event also provided an opportunity to honour an emerging talent of British skiing: mogul skier Thomas Gerken-Schofield was presented with the Evie Pinching Award by the Ski Club of Great Britain, and won a trip to Zermatt for a training camp with elite Swiss mogul skiers. |
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| SWISS BUSINESS HUB UK & IRELAND |
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| The masterclass at the Embassy © FDFA |
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Dedicated UK and Irish companies explored the opportunity to set up operations in Switzerland at the first Life Science Masterclass hosted at the Embassy. The event offered practical advice to ten selected companies, focusing on challenges relating to implications of legal structures, tax, HR, logistics and regulations when trading with the EU.
A networking lunch followed the morning programme where we celebrated the Swiss-UK Life Science Community.
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| The panel (left to right): Colonel Gerald Vernez, Geraldine Mortby, Dr Guy Bunker, Ambassador Fasel, Colonel Martin Lerch, James Hatch, Group Captain Stewart Woods. © FDFA |
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The Defence Attaché’s Office and the Swiss Business Hub organised a panel discussion on a very topical issue: cyber-defence. Keynote speakers and panellists from both the governmental and corporate sector discussed challenges and opportunities from a UK and Swiss perspective, covering topics such as digital sovereignty and neutrality, as well as the most acute cyber threats. Find out more here.
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| Best Practice in Export – Swiss and UK Approaches |
| Ambassador Fasel opened the panel discussion. © Julian Maehrlein |
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In an event that showcased how Swiss and British businesses can benefit from each other’s experience and expertise, the Swiss Business Hub brought together the entrepreneurs that represent the ‘backbone of the economy’: representatives of six small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the UK and Switzerland discussed what makes them successful exporters. Find out about their best practices. |
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| The former Swiss National Bank Chairman Philipp Hildebrand, Vice-Chair, BlackRock (right) was one of the speakers. © FDFA |
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The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals require substantive investments to be reached by 2030. A high-profile panel hosted by the Swiss Business Hub explored how the private and public sector can work together through development investment to get there. This way, philanthropy and good business are not mutually exclusive – it is possible to be doing well while doing good!
For a more in-depth look at this event, see the following video. |
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| CH+UK Swiss Culture in the UK |
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The Embassy’s ‘CH+UK’ initiative promotes Swiss artists, creative industries and culture across all disciplines in the UK and hosts the listing of Swiss cultural events throughout the UK. More information |
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| Swiss Ambassador’s Award Concert Tour |
This year’s Award winner, 23-year-old Swiss cello virtuoso Christoph Croisé – accompanied by acclaimed Russian pianist Alexander Panfilov – displayed ‘wisdom beyond his years’ according to the Daily Mail. He delighted audiences across the UK’s capital cities with a challenging programme of Swiss contemporary pieces by Demenga and Schnyder along with classics by Rachmaninov, Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky. Watch the performance on Youtube.
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We offer four academic internships per year; two
in the Political, Legal and Press Section, and two in the Culture and Sport
Section. More Information |
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If you are an alumnus of a Swiss University and you are based in the UK, visit the Alumni network page for more information.
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| London |
| Swiss Church Events |
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A range of community and cultural events take place at the Swiss Church in the heart of London. Events calendar |
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| UK |
| Swiss Club and Societies events |
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Events organised by the various Swiss clubs and societies across the UK are now consolidated in a dedicated calendar on the FOSSUK website. Events calendar |
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