Policy Profile Switzerland

Introduction

The Swiss Confederation is not a member of the European Union, neither is it a candidate country nor seeking membership. It is, however, a Member State of the European Free Trade Area EFTA) together with Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.

Switzerland, the EU and Europe

In May 1992, Switzerland started the process to access the European Economic Area (EEA), and submitted the application to become a member of the EU. However, following a referendum in December 1992, where the majority of the Swiss population voted against accession of EEA and the EU, Switzerland withdrew both applications. 

Switzerland is a signatory of the Schengen Agreement (1985) and therefore belongs to the Schengen area. 

The EU maintains a delegation of the EU external action service in Bern for relations with Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

As a signatory of the European Cultural Convention, Switzerland participates in the European Heritage Days initiative, and in the Erasmus Plus programme, whereas participation in the Creative Europe programme is still pending. 

National Cultural Policy in Switzerland

Switzerland is a confederation of 26 cantons, and the cultural policy area falls within the “cantonal responsibilities” (Article 69 of the Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation). Nonetheless, the Confederation is competent for all cultural matters of “national interest” as defined in Article 6 of the Loi fédérale sur l’encouragement de la culture (Federal Law on Cultural Promotion). 

On the federal level, therefore, the prominent actor in the field of cultural heritage is the  Office fédérale de la Culture (Federal Office of Culture, FOC), that defines the confederal cultural policy and acts as coordinator of the federal agencies. 

The FOC has two branches, one on Cultural Heritage and Outreach, which is in turn divided into: Baukultur/Culture du bâti (buildings), Museum and Collections and National LIbrary. Along with the FOC, the other federal relevant institutions are the Fondation Suisse pour la Culture (Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia), the Swiss National Museum (SNM) and the Swiss National Library (NL). 

On the international scale, under the Département fédéral des affaires étrangères (DFAE) (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs), the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation is entrusted with the promotion of Swiss culture beyond federal borders, and Présence Suisse (Presence Switzerland) with the promotion of the Swiss image. 

Regional Policies in Switzerland

Switzerland is composed of 26 cantons: Zürich (Zurich), Berne or Berne, Luzern (Lucerne), Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden (Obwald), Nidwalden (Nidwald), Glarus, Zug (Zoug), Fribourg or Freibourg, Solothurn or Soleure, Basel-Stadt (Basel-City), Basel-Landschaft (Basel-Country), Schaffhausen (Schaffhouse), Appenzell Innerrhoden or Appenzell Inner-Rhodes, St. Gallen (St. Gall), Graubünden or Grischun or Grigioni (Grisons), Aargau, Thurgau or Thurgovia, Ticino or Tessin, Vaud, Valais or Wallis, Neuchatel, Genève (Geneva) and Jura. 

All Cantons promote their independent cultural strategy alongside municipalities and cities. The most important cities in the cultural scene are Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bern and Lausanne. To enhance coordination among the cantonal strategies, the Conférence des directrices et directeurs cantonaux de l’instruction publique (CDIP) (Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education) has a specialised  Conference of Cantonal Directors of Culture (Conférence des déléguées et délégués cantonaux aux affaires culturelles – CDAC). 

View all Switzerland policies gathered so far

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* = This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence

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