http://www.news.admin.ch All communications (press releases, speeches, details about new features on websites) en 2013-05-18 2013-05-18 News Service Bund http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48877 Neonicotinoid insecticides have adverse effects not only on bees but also on freshwater invertebrates. Exposure to low but constant concentrations of these substances – which are highly soluble in water – has lethal effects on these aquatic organisms. 2013-05-16 Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48805 The Newsletter from the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI is published. 2013-05-13 State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48801 On 8 May 2013 the Federal Council decided to grant Burkina Faso and Mozambique general budgetary assistance of CHF 32 million each for the years 2013 to 2016. This will support both countries in implementation of their poverty reduction strategies, which focus on broad-based and sustainable growth. 2013-05-08 The Federal Council http://www.seco.admin.ch/themen/00513/00620/00622/00623/index.html?lang=de The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER has amended the Annex/ Annexes to the Ordinance. 2013-05-07 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.seco.admin.ch/themen/00513/00620/00622/04669/index.html?lang=de The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER has amended the Annex/ Annexes to the Ordinance. 2013-05-07 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.seco.admin.ch/themen/00513/00620/00622/00634/index.html?lang=de The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER has amended the Annex/ Annexes to the Ordinance. 2013-05-07 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48771 Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, Swiss Governor at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), will be attending the Bank’s Annual Meeting in Istanbul on 10–11 May 2013. Switzerland supports the vision of an efficient bank that sets clear priorities and measures the impact of its activities. 2013-05-07 Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48752 Arbeitslosigkeit im April 2013. Gemäss den Erhebungen des Staatssekretariats für Wirtschaft (SECO) waren Ende April 2013 135’851 Arbeitslose bei den Regionalen Arbeitsvermittlungszentren (RAV) eingeschrieben, 3’142 weniger als im Vormonat. Die Arbeitslosenquote sank damit von 3,2% im März 2013 auf 3,1% im Berichtsmonat. Gegenüber dem Vorjahresmonat erhöhte sich die Arbeitslosigkeit um 12’693 Personen (+10,3%). 2013-05-07 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48750 After improving noticeably in January, there was no further improvement in consumer confidence in Switzerland in April 2013. With a value of -5 points (-6 points in January) the consumer confidence index remained slightly above the historical average; this assessment reflects a mild optimism among households since last January. Confi-dence about jobs and the prospects for unemployment was seen in April as slightly less negative than in the January*. 2013-05-07 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48678 As the sole shareholder of SIFEM (Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets), the Swiss Confederation approved the 2012 Annual Report and audited financial statements at the General Assembly held on 7 May 2013. Overall, SIFEM is on track and contributing significantly to job creation. 2013-05-07 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48731 Scientists use nano-rods to investigate how matter assembles In the microscopic world, everything is in motion: atoms and molecules vibrate, proteins fold, even glass is a slow flowing liquid. And during each movement there are interactions between the smallest elements – for example, the atoms – and their neighbours. To make these movements visible, scientists at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have developed a special model system. It is so big that it can be easily observed under an X-ray microscope, and mimics the tiniest movements in Nature. The model: rings made from six nanoscale magnetic rods, whose north and south poles attract each other. At room temperature, the magnetisation direction of each of these tiny rods varies spontaneously. Scientists were able to observe the magnetic interactions between these active rods in real time. These research results were published on May 5 in the journal “Nature Physics”. 2013-05-05 Paul Scherrer Institut http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48677 Thomas Bieger wird neuer Präsident der Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für Hotelkredit (SGH). Das Eidgenössische Departement für Wirtschaft, Bildung und Forschung (WBF) hat den Rektor der Universität St. Gallen für die Amtszeit 2013 – 2015 als Bundesvertreter zum Präsidenten der SGH gewählt. Er tritt die Nachfolge von Ulrich Immler an, der auf die Generalversammlung vom 20. Juni 2013 altersbedingt zurücktreten wird. 2013-05-02 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48694 The Federal Council decided on 1 May 2013 to allocate CHF 30 million to a strategic partnership with the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) within the framework of SECO's economic development cooperation. This will be used to support public-private cooperation to promote the sustainable cultivation of tropical products. 2013-05-01 The Federal Council http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48647 Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann today met with Mr Jean-Jacques Dordain, the Director General of the European Space Agency ESA. They discussed the future of Switzerland’s collaboration within the ESA. The head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research stressed the importance for Switzerland of this cooperation and its desire to continue to work together. Following the discussions, the two men visited a company in canton Vaud active in the aerospace sector and the Observatory of the University of Geneva. 2013-04-26 Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48636 Die Anzahl der durchgeführten Kontrollen haben im 2012 erneut zugenommen und liegen wiederum deutlich über den Anforderungen der Entsendeverordnung. Die Professionalisierung der Kontrollorgane führt zu einer gezielteren und wirksameren Bekämpfung von Lohnunterbietungen. 2012 haben die tripartiten und die paritätischen Kommissionen die Lohn- und Arbeitsbedingungen bei insgesamt rund 39‘000 Betrieben und 152‘000 Personen kontrolliert. 2013-04-26 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48605 Aufgrund der Revision des Bundesgesetzes über technische Handelshemmnisse (THG) per 1. Juli 2010 und der ausgelösten Folgearbeiten kam es zu einem massgebenden Abbau technischer Handelshemmnisse. Nachteilige Effekte auf das Schutzniveau der Konsumenten konnten keine nachgewiesen werden. Die Liberalisierungen führten auch zu gewissen preissenkenden Effekten. Zu diesem Ergebnis kommen die vom SECO durchgeführte begleitende Evaluation zu den Auswirkungen der Revision des Bundesgesetzes über die technischen Handelshemmnisse THG (Einführung des «Cassis de Dijon»-Prinzips in der Schweiz) und das hierzu eingerichtete Preisobservatorium. 2013-04-25 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48623 In the coming 12 months, workers from EU states will have only restricted access to the Swiss labour market. The Federal Council decided today to invoke the safeguard clause contained in the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons. The quotas apply to category B residence permits for persons from EU-8 states, and, provided the requirements are met by the end of May, from EU-17 states. 2013-04-24 The Federal Council http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48579 Das SECO publiziert am Freitag, 26. April 2013, 08.00 Uhr auf seiner Homepage www.seco.admin.ch den jüngsten Bericht zur Umsetzung der flankierenden Massnahmen zum freien Personenverkehr Schweiz – Europäische Union für das Jahr 2012. 2013-04-22 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48510 Natural capital is a relevant factor in economic decision-making and plays a decisive role in, for example, the development of tourist destinations or natural flood protection. At the World Bank Spring Meeting on 18-21 April in Washington DC, Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann signed two agreements in support of natural capital accounting in developing countries, each to the value of USD 2.5 million. 2013-04-20 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48554 At the 2013 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, the ministerial steering committee of the IMF will consider the state of the global economy and measures to prompt its recovery and boost its resilience. The main topic for the Development Committee is the adoption of the new vision for the World Bank Group. In the run-up to the meetings, there will be a meeting of the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors, to which Switzerland has also been invited. 2013-04-18 The Federal Council http://www.seco.admin.ch/themen/00513/00620/00622/00623/index.html?lang=de The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER has amended the Annex/ Annexes to the Ordinance. 2013-04-18 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.seco.admin.ch/themen/00513/00620/00622/00630/index.html?lang=de The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER has amended the Annex/ Annexes to the Ordinance. 2013-04-18 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.seco.admin.ch/themen/00513/00620/00622/04895/index.html?lang=de The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER has amended the Annex/ Annexes to the Ordinance. 2013-04-18 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.seco.admin.ch/themen/00513/00620/00622/00633/index.html?lang=de The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER has amended the Annex/ Annexes to the Ordinance. 2013-04-18 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.seco.admin.ch/themen/00513/00620/00622/00626/index.html?lang=de The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER has amended the Annex/ Annexes to the Ordinance. 2013-04-18 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48512 Eine Studie im Auftrag der Aufsichtskommission des Fonds der Arbeitslosenversicherung hat die Ursachen der unterschiedlichen Wirkungen von Regionalen Arbeitsvermittlungszentren (RAV) untersucht. Die Studie gelangt zum Schluss, dass die RAV grundsätzlich gute Arbeit leisten, dass aber einzelne RAV durch die Ausmerzung von spezifischen Schwachpunkten ihr Ergebnis verbessern könnten. 2013-04-16 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48489 Lithium-ion batteries are high performance energy storage devices used in many commercial electronic appliances. Certainly, they can store a large amount of energy in a relatively small volume. They have also previously been widely believed to exhibit no memory effect. That’s how experts call a deviation in the working voltage of the battery, caused by incomplete charging or discharging, that can lead to only part of the stored energy being available and an inability to determine the charge level of the battery reliably. Scientists at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI, together with colleagues from the Toyota Research Laboratories in Japan have now however discovered that a widely-used type of lithium-ion battery has a memory effect. This discovery is of particularly high relevance for advances towards using lithium-ion batteries in the electric vehicle market. The work was published today in the scientific journal Nature Materials 2013-04-14 Paul Scherrer Institut http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48501 Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann will conclude his official visit to Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan on 13 April. The mission began on 10 April with the aim of strengthening economic relations with these increasingly important members of Switzerland’s constituency in the Bretton Woods institutions. Federal Councillor Schneider-Ammann was accompanied on his trip to Astana and Baku by around twenty private sector representatives. 2013-04-13 Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48466 Das Staatssekretariat für Wirtschaft SECO warnt vor Klettersteigsets mit Seilbremsen. Im Rahmen umfangreicher Tests an alten, gebrauchten Klettersteigsets hat die Bergsportindustrie festgestellt, dass gebrauchte Klettersteigsets mit Seilbremsen im Falle eines Sturzes versagen können. Schwere Verletzungen oder der Tod können die Folge sein. Zurzeit machen verschiedene Hersteller einen Rückruf ihrer Klettersteigsets. 2013-04-11 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48447 On 10 April, the Federal Council approved the 2012 annual report of the Swiss Export Risk Insurance (SERV) organisation. In the year under review SERV undertook new engagements of 3.8 billion francs. In 2012 it generated a profit of 50.2 million francs after reporting its first ever loss in 2011 of 55.2 million francs. 2013-04-10 The Federal Council http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48411 The first edition of the Newsletter from the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI is published. 2013-04-10 State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48421 Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann will travel on an official visit to Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan between 10 and 13 April. The aim of the economic mission is to strengthen relations with these increasingly important economic partners which are members of the Swiss constituency at the Bretton Woods institutions. The programme includes meetings with representatives of the two governments. Mr Schneider-Ammann will be accompanied on his trip to Astana and Baku by around twenty private sector representatives. 2013-04-09 Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48403 Die Arbeitslosenversicherung schliesst die Jahresrechnung 2012 mit einem Überschuss von 1,16 Milliarden Franken und einem Schuldenstand von 5 Milliarden Franken ab. 2013-04-09 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48402 Arbeitslosigkeit im März 2013. Gemäss den Erhebungen des Staatssekretariats für Wirtschaft (SECO) waren Ende März 2013 138’993 Arbeitslose bei den Regionalen Arbeitsvermittlungszentren (RAV) eingeschrieben, 7’008 weniger als im Vormonat. Die Arbeitslosenquote sank damit von 3,4% im Februar 2013 auf 3,2% im Berichtsmonat. Gegenüber dem Vorjahresmonat erhöhte sich die Arbeitslosigkeit um 12’601 Personen (+10,0%). 2013-04-09 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48397 The Swiss fishing advisory office, FIBER, run jointly by Eawag, the Federal Office for the Environment and the Swiss Fishing Association has been secured for a further three years. The office is designed to promote sustainable fishing, as well as an understanding of healthy water bodies, and the preservation of spawning grounds. The new di-rector of FIBER is fish biologist Bänz Lundsgaard-Hansen. 2013-04-08 Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48368 Das revidierte Bundesgesetz gegen den unlauteren Wettbewerb (UWG) ist seit dem 1. April 2012 in Kraft. Dem SECO sind seit diesem Zeitpunkt fast 5000 Beschwerden von Unternehmen sowie Konsumentinnen und Konsumenten zugetragen worden. 50 Unternehmen hat das SECO abgemahnt, gegen 17 Gesellschaften Strafklagen eingereicht. 2013-04-04 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48356 PSI scientists reveal how lubricant oil disperses in a functioning clutch Lubricating oil is essential for engines. Multi-disc clutches, like those found in motorcycles, are also lubricated and cooled with oil. The oil pump has to be driven by the engine at the same time, thus increasing the vehicle’s fuel consumption. The goal of developers is therefore to optimally lubricate the drive components – with the smallest possible volume of flowing oil. In order to observe how oil is distributed inside a clutch, Developmental Engineers from the Schaeffler-Brand LuK (D) together with scientists from the Paul Scherrer Institute in Villigen (CH) are working together, illuminating metals with neutrons. 2013-04-03 Paul Scherrer Institut http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48332 Am 28. März 2013 ist die zweiwöchige Verhandlungskonferenz zum internationalen Waffenhandelsvertrag zu Ende gegangen. Der Vertragstext, welcher erstmalig den internationalen Waffenhandel rechtlich verbindlich regelt, wurde nun am 2. April 2013 von der Generalversammlung der Vereinten Nationen verabschiedet. 2013-04-03 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48319 The background report on commodities prepared under the aegis of three government departments (FDFA, FDF, EAER) highlights the economic importance of the commodities industry for Switzerland. The report shows that Switzerland already does a great deal to safeguard its competitiveness and its integrity as a business location, including the commodity trading sector. A set of targeted recommendations should further improve conditions and reduce various risks including those to reputation. 2013-03-27 The Federal Council http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48306 Switzerland will continue its support for the poorest countries of Asia through its development cooperation. The Federal Council ruled on March 27 to pledge CHF 48 million to the Asian Development Fund over the next four years. The fund supports the poorest developing countries in Asia and the Pacific. 2013-03-27 The Federal Council http://www.seco.admin.ch/themen/00513/00620/00622/00637/index.html?lang=de The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER has amended the Annex/ Annexes to the Ordinance. 2013-03-26 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.seco.admin.ch/themen/00513/00620/00622/02048/index.html?lang=de The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER has amended the Annex/ Annexes to the Ordinance. 2013-03-26 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48267 More than 30 foreign science attachés are meeting their Swiss colleagues at a conference in Bern. At the opening of the conference on Monday, Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann reaffirmed his commitment to Switzerland as an open location for business and innovation focussed on excellence. In addition to well-functioning relationships, the basis for progress and success requires healthy competition, a high degree of individual responsibility and a clear awareness of costs. 2013-03-25 State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48228 On 21st March 2013, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), received his Latvian counterpart Edgars Rinkēvičs for an official working visit. In addition to bilateral relations, the talks in Bern covered the European policy of both countries, aspects of multilateral cooperation, and current international issues. 2013-03-21 Federal Department of Foreign Affairs http://www.seco.admin.ch/themen/00513/00620/00622/04634/index.html?lang=de The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER has amended the Annex/ Annexes to the Ordinance. 2013-03-21 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48185 Economic forecasts from the Federal Government’s Expert Group – Spring 2012/2013*. At the start of 2013 the Swiss economy is feeling the tailwind from the international financial markets and the signs of a pickup in the global economy. In view of the continuing stability in the domestic economy and brightening outlook for exports, the opportunities for increasing economic growth during the course of this and the next year are good. The Expert Group forecasts a still relatively moderate 1.3% rise in GDP for 2013, accelerating to 2.1% for 2014. However, despite the revival of confidence in the economy the risks are still present. In particular, a long-term resolution of the debt crisis in the Euro zone is a difficult task. The main challenge is, despite the deep economic crisis in the single currency countries of Southern Europe and the resultant risks to political stability, to maintain the social cohesion in these countries. The confidence which has returned to the financial markets needs to be boosted further still in order to create the basis for long-term growth in the Euro zone. 2013-03-18 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48141 In 2012 the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, SECO, received more than 400 complaints relating to directory scams. Time and again companies are entering into contracts for trade directory listings against their wishes. Anyone who skims over forms and signs them without reading them thoroughly could be in for a nasty and costly surprise. 2013-03-14 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48117 On 12 March 2013, Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann had discussions in Berne with Mr. José Graziano da Silva, the Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The matters discussed included strengthening Switzerland’s collaboration with the FAO in the fight against hunger throughout the world and in developing sustainable food supply systems. 2013-03-12 Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48086 Das SECO warnt vor Fax-Mitteilungen, welche mit „Handelsregisteramt der Schweiz“ betitelt sind. Diese Mitteilungen haben absolut nichts mit den offiziellen Handelsregisterämtern zu tun, obwohl die Verwendung des Schweizer Kreuzes und die Bezeichnung einen solchen falschen Schluss zulassen. 2013-03-08 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.seco.admin.ch/themen/00513/00620/00622/00623/index.html?lang=de The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER has amended the Annex/ Annexes to the Ordinance. 2013-03-08 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48029 Arbeitslosigkeit im Februar 2013. Gemäss den Erhebungen des Staatssekretariats für Wirtschaft (SECO) waren Ende Februar 2013 146’001 Arbeitslose bei den Regionalen Arbeitsvermittlungszentren (RAV) eingeschrieben, 2’157 weniger als im Vormonat. Die Arbeitslosenquote verharrte bei 3,4% im Berichtsmonat. Gegenüber dem Vorjahresmonat erhöhte sich die Arbeitslosigkeit um 12’847 Personen (+9,6%). 2013-03-07 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48010 Researchers at Eawag and EPFL discovered what might be a universal proper-ty of size distributions in living systems. If valid throughout the animal kingdom, it could have profound implications on how we understand population dynamics of large ecosystems. 2013-03-05 Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/48002 Der eEconomy Report erfasst und beurteilt den Einsatz und die Nutzung moderner Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien (IKT) in verschiedenen Wirtschafts- und Verwaltungsbereichen der Schweiz. Im Auftrag des Staatssekretariats für Wirtschaft SECO erstellte das Institut für Wirtschaftsstudien Basel den zweiten eEconomy Report. 2013-03-04 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/47940 Switzerland’s real gross domestic product (GDP) grew in the 4th quarter 2012 by 0.2%* compared to the 3rd quarter. Positive contributions to growth came primarily from private and public consumption. Gross fixed investments contributed positively but marginally to GDP growth. However, net exports of goods and services delivered a negative contribution to GDP growth in the 4th quarter. Value added on the production side increased in a number of service related sectors; particularly in the areas of trade, transport, information and communication, the delivery of financial services as well as in healthcare and social services. By contrast, the value added in the industry sector declined. Compared with the 4th quarter 2011, Swiss GDP grew by 1.4%. From the results of the quarterly national accounts, a provisional GDP growth rate over the whole year 2012 of 1.0% at constant prices and of 1.1% at current prices can be derived. 2013-02-28 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.seco.admin.ch/themen/00513/00620/00622/00630/index.html?lang=de The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER has amended the Annex/ Annexes to the Ordinance. 2013-02-28 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/47933 The Federal Council has referred to parliament two dispatches on funding for Swiss participation in the EU Framework Programmes in the areas of Research and Innovation on the one hand, and education, training, youth and sport on the other. The former is intended to give researchers in Switzerland continued access to the second most significant source of public funding and to the European research network. The second dispatch is designed to continue the mobility opportunities of students in education, training and on youth and sport courses. The total budget set in both dispatches is approximately 4.7 billion Swiss francs (including reserves) for the years 2014 to 2020. Their approval by parliament will allow the Federal Council to conduct negotiations with the EU on renewing both bilateral agreements. 2013-02-27 The Federal Council http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/47888 Im Jahre 2012 hat die Schweiz für 700,4 Millionen Franken Kriegsmaterial in 68 Länder exportiert (2011: 873,6 Millionen). Dies entspricht einer Abnahme um 20 Prozent gegenüber dem Vorjahr und einem Anteil von 0,33 Prozent (0,42 Prozent) an der gesamten Warenausfuhr der Schweizer Wirtschaft im Jahr 2012. 2013-02-26 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/47858 Das Staatssekretariat für Wirtschaft SECO hat die Auswirkungen der Zweitwohnungsinitiative auf die touristische und regionalwirtschaftliche Entwicklung in den hauptsächlich betroffenen Regionen anhand von zwei sich ergänzenden Gutachten untersuchen lassen. Beide Wirkungsanalysen zeigen auf, dass die Ausgestaltung der Ausführungsgesetzgebung einen entscheidenden Einfluss auf die Auswirkungen der Zweitwohnungsinitiative hat. Basierend auf den Ergebnissen der vorliegenden Wirkungsanalysen setzt sich das SECO weiterhin und prioritär für eine tourismusfreundliche Ausführungsgesetzgebung ein und verfügt bereits heute über ein wirkungsvolles Instrumentarium zur Unterstützung der betroffenen Kantone und Regionen (insbesondere Neue Regionalpolitik, Innotour und Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Hotelkredit). 2013-02-21 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/47846 The Federal Council has named Professor Philippe Gillet, Vice President of Academic Affairs at the EPFL, as its interim President for the period between 1 August 2013 and 31 January 2014. He will take over the running of the EPFL for six months while Professor Patrick Aebischer takes a sabbatical after 13 years of service to dedicate time to researching and testing new approaches to teaching. 2013-02-20 The Federal Council http://www.seco.admin.ch/themen/00513/00620/00622/00623/index.html?lang=de The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER has amended the Annex/ Annexes to the Ordinance. 2013-02-19 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/47813 The Vice Premier of the People’s Republic of China, Hui Liangyu paid an official working visit to Switzerland on 18 February 2013 at the invitation of Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, who as well as being Vice President of the Federal Council heads the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). During the visit he paid a courtesy call on the Swiss President Ueli Maurer and also had a meeting with Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann. The talks touched on bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the two countries in a number of areas. 2013-02-18 Federal Department of Foreign Affairs http://www.news.admin.ch/NSBSubscriber/message/en/47801 Seit der Einführung der Personenfreizügigkeit zwischen der Schweiz und der EU im Jahr 2002 wurden deren Auswirkungen auf die Löhne in der Schweiz verschiedentlich wissenschaftlich untersucht. Im Auftrag des SECO hat die Universität Genf eine weitere Studie auf Basis der aktuellsten Lohnerhebungen erstellt. Die Studie zieht eine mehrheitlich positive Bilanz und kommt zum Schluss, dass die geschätzten Folgen der Zuwanderung insgesamt gering und nur bei gewissen Berufsgruppen negativ sind. 2013-02-18 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs