New Directorate for European Affairs at the FDFA
Bern, 19.12.2012 - Starting from 1 January 2013, the Directorate for European Affairs (DEA) within the FDFA is responsible for the coordination of Swiss policy on the European Union. It continues to carry out the tasks for which the Integration Office FDFA/FDEA has been responsible since 1961. With regard to the launch of the DEA, the Federal Council has today appointed the current Head of the Integration Office FDFA/FDEA, Henri Gétaz, as Director of the DEA. It also conferred the title of ambassador on two members of the Directorate.
The background to the establishment of the Directorate for European Affairs is the Federal Council's reorganisation decision of 29 June 2011, according to which the Integration Office FDFA/FDEA is to be made solely subordinate to the FDFA. The tasks of the Integration Office are being transferred unchanged to the newly created Directorate within the FDFA. In particular, the DEA will remain the competence centre of the Confederation for all issues relating to European integration. The new Directorate focuses on the political and economic aspects of European integration, coordinates Swiss policy and provides information about it. It prepares decisions and leads the negotiations with the EU in cooperation with the responsible units. At the same time, it monitors and analyses the development of the EU and of European law as well as their consequences for Switzerland.
At its meeting today, the Federal Council appointed the current Head of the Integration Office FDFA/FDEA, Henri Gétaz, as Director of the DEA. The Deputy-Director of the newly created Directorate, with the title of ambassador, will be Dominique Paravicini. The title of ambassador was also conferred on the Vice-Director of the DEA, Hanspeter Mock.
As of 1 January 2013, media enquiries regarding Swiss policy on the European Union should be addressed directly to FDFA Information.
For further information:
Kathrin Naegeli
IO FDFA/FDEA Information
+41 (0)31 322 26 40
Address for enquiries
Information FDFA
+41 (31) 322 31 53
Links
Publisher
The Federal Council
https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html
Integration Office FDFA/FDEA (IO) - as of 1.1.2013 in the FDFA
http://www.europa.admin.ch
