BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Alain Berset - ECPv6.18.3//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://alainberset.ch
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Alain Berset
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:Europe/Zurich
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0200
TZNAME:CEST
DTSTART:20160327T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0200
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:CET
DTSTART:20161030T010000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0200
TZNAME:CEST
DTSTART:20170326T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0200
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:CET
DTSTART:20171029T010000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0200
TZNAME:CEST
DTSTART:20180325T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0200
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:CET
DTSTART:20181028T010000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0200
TZNAME:CEST
DTSTART:20190331T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0200
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:CET
DTSTART:20191027T010000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180204
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180208
DTSTAMP:20261020T173058Z
CREATED:20261015T213422Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173058Z
UID:45734-1517702400-1518047999@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:First visit by a President of the Swiss Confederation to Bangladesh
DESCRIPTION:No President of the Swiss Confederation had ever been to Bangladesh. Alain Berset spends three days there\, with two aims: solidarity with a country hosting more than 650\,000 Rohingya driven out of Myanmar\, and closer relations with the eighth most populous country in the world. On 5 February\, he meets President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina; the two countries adopt a joint declaration. He announces 12 million francs in additional humanitarian aid for 2018\, after 8 million in 2017. \nOn 6 February\, he is in Cox’s Bazar. At Sadar District Hospital\, he hands over 100 beds and diagnostic equipment funded by Switzerland. Then the Kutupalong camp: “I witnessed the tragedy of the people who fled their homes in Myanmar”. The repatriation agreement between Bangladesh and Myanmar is a positive step\, he says\, provided that returns are voluntary\, safe and dignified. \nThe economic side matters too: trade has more than doubled since 2010\, driven by textiles. He lays flowers at the National Martyrs’ Memorial and the Bangabandhu Museum\, and recalls that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman saw his country as the “Switzerland of the East”. The visit ends at the Dhaka Art Summit\, supported by Pro Helvetia. \nSunday 4 February 2018 — Dhaka\n\nMeeting with Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali\n\nMonday 5 February 2018 — Dhaka\n\nMeeting with Swiss business leaders\nLaying of flowers at the National Martyrs’ Memorial and the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum\nBangladesh–Switzerland Business Forum\, address\nMeeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina\, joint declaration\, press conference\nMeeting with President Abdul Hamid and state banquet\n\nTuesday 6 February 2018 — Cox’s Bazar and Dhaka\n\nHandover of Swiss equipment at Sadar District Hospital\nVisit to the Kutupalong refugee camp\, press statement\nReception hosted by the Swiss Embassy\, address\n\nWednesday 7 February 2018 — Dhaka\n\nMeeting with the Speaker of Parliament Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury\, press conference\nVisit to the Dhaka Art Summit\, address\n\nSpeeches on this site \n\nRencontre avec les milieux économiques suisses et bangladais (French-language page)\nDéclaration à la presse à Dacca après l’entretien avec la Première ministre Sheikh Hasina (French-language page)\nRemise de la contribution suisse à l’hôpital de district Sadar de Cox’s Bazar (French-language page)\nDéclaration au camp de réfugiés rohingyas de Kutupalong (French-language page)\nRéception à Dacca à l’occasion de la visite officielle au Bangladesh (French-language page)\nVisite du Dhaka Art Summit (French-language page)\n\nSources \n\nFederal Council\, press release of 07.02.2018\nFederal Council\, press release of 30.01.2018
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/first-visit-by-a-president-of-the-swiss-confederation-to-bangladesh/
LOCATION:Dacca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180202
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180203
DTSTAMP:20261020T173058Z
CREATED:20261015T213414Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173058Z
UID:45732-1517529600-1517615999@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:Von Wattenwyl talks
DESCRIPTION:The first Von Wattenwyl talks of the year. Alain Berset leads the Federal Council delegation\, with Doris Leuthard\, Ignazio Cassis and Federal Chancellor Walter Thurnherr\, facing the party and parliamentary group leaders of the CVP\, FDP\, SP and SVP. \nIgnazio Cassis presents the decisions of 31 January on European policy; the discussion covers the scope of a possible institutional agreement and the dynamic adoption of EU law. Doris Leuthard sets out the future of the electricity market and the idea of a strategic reserve. The Federal Council repeats the urgency of Tax Proposal 17. \nSources \n\nFederal Council\, press release of 02.02.2018
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/von-wattenwyl-talks/
LOCATION:Berne
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180129
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180130
DTSTAMP:20261020T173058Z
CREATED:20261015T213412Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173058Z
UID:45730-1517184000-1517270399@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:Fifth Health2020 National Conference: curbing costs
DESCRIPTION:More than 300 health policy stakeholders gather in Berne around one question: who bears which responsibility for rising costs? The basis for the work: the 2017 report by international experts and its 38 measures\, including a binding cap on cost growth by sector and an “experimental article” in the Health Insurance Act (KVG/LAMal) for pilot projects. \nAlain Berset opens with a quotation from the Federal Council’s 1991 dispatch\, which already deplored premiums that had become unbearable for some households. Twenty-six years later\, the goal of a burden of 6 to 8% of income is still far off. Shrug it off? “Das wäre die Bankrotterklärung der Gesundheitspolitik.” The Federal Council wants to set its priorities in the spring and open a first consultation in the autumn. \nSpeeches on this site \n\nConférence nationale Santé2020 « Freiner les coûts – qui porte quelle responsabilité ? » (in German\, French-language page)\n\nSources \n\nFederal Council\, press release of 29.01.2018
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/fifth-health2020-national-conference-curbing-costs/
LOCATION:Berne
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180127
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180128
DTSTAMP:20261020T173057Z
CREATED:20261015T213408Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173057Z
UID:45728-1517011200-1517097599@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:Message for Holocaust Remembrance Day
DESCRIPTION:A written message for the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Alain Berset starts from Jean Améry\, an Auschwitz survivor tortured by the Gestapo: “Anyone who has been subjected to torture can no longer feel at home in the world.” \nSwitzerland then chairs the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance\, 31 member states\, which has just adopted a strategy for the first time. The message recalls the projects carried out with the universities of teacher education on teaching the history of the Holocaust and on the Nazi murder of people with disabilities. The struggle\, he concludes\, begins with the younger generations. \nSpeeches on this site \n\nUm «heimisch zu werden in der Welt» (in German\, French-language page)\n\nSources \n\nFederal Council\, message of 27.01.2018
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/message-for-holocaust-remembrance-day/
LOCATION:Berne
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180126
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180127
DTSTAMP:20261020T173057Z
CREATED:20261015T213405Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173057Z
UID:45726-1516924800-1517011199@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:Meeting with Donald Trump
DESCRIPTION:Last day of the WEF. Alain Berset receives Donald Trump\, with Federal Councillors Ignazio Cassis and Johann Schneider-Ammann. On the American side\, several cabinet members. On the agenda: economic relations; vocational training\, in which the US President takes a personal interest; Switzerland’s protecting power mandate for the United States in Iran; and International Geneva. \nBefore the press\, Alain Berset points out that Switzerland is the sixth-largest investor in the United States and that its companies have created 500\,000 direct jobs there. He asks for the proceedings against the Swiss “category 1” banks to be closed quickly\, to turn the page on the tax dispute. He describes the exchange as “very open\, productive and a real exchange” and writes on Twitter: “Excellent talk with President Trump.” The White House readout also mentions the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. \nSpeeches on this site \n\nPoint de presse après la rencontre avec le président des États-Unis Donald Trump (in German\, French-language page)\n\nSources \n\nswissinfo.ch\, 26.01.2018\nWhite House\, readout of 26.01.2018\nFederal Council\, press release of 24.01.2018
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/meeting-with-donald-trump/
LOCATION:Davos
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180125
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180126
DTSTAMP:20261020T173057Z
CREATED:20261015T213402Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173057Z
UID:45724-1516838400-1516924799@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:Opening of the 53rd Solothurn Film Festival
DESCRIPTION:Between two days at the WEF\, Alain Berset opens the 53rd Solothurn Film Festival. He quotes Fredi M. Murer: since 1966\, every year after Solothurn\, one reads that Swiss cinema is in crisis. What crisis in 2018? “Eine Krise der Verunsicherung”\, he replies. \nThe speech\, “Tiefenscharf und hoch politisch”\, asks what role a festival of debate can play when everything becomes a matter of interpretation and facts\, even scientific ones\, turn into political modelling clay. Neither irony nor withdrawal is enough\, he says: the causes of the unease\, inequality\, migration\, the changing world of work\, will not disappear by themselves. \nSpeeches on this site \n\nTiefenscharf und hoch politisch (in German\, French-language page)\n\nSources \n\nFederal Council\, speech of 25.01.2018
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/opening-of-the-53rd-solothurn-film-festival/
LOCATION:Soleure
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180122
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180126
DTSTAMP:20261020T173056Z
CREATED:20261015T213359Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173056Z
UID:45722-1516579200-1516924799@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:World Economic Forum: opening speech and bilateral meetings
DESCRIPTION:On 23 January\, Alain Berset opens the WEF Annual Meeting with Klaus Schwab\, just before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The theme of the year: “Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World”. He calls for 2018 to be “the year of international cooperation and multilateralism” and warns against national withdrawal: if mistrust spreads\, the poorest and most fragile will be the first to suffer. \nMore than a dozen meetings in four days. Narendra Modi on 22 January\, with Johann Schneider-Ammann: investment protection and free trade between EFTA and India. Then Angela Merkel\, Theresa May\, Charles Michel\, Petro Poroshenko\, European Commissioner Pierre Moscovici\, Benjamin Netanyahu\, Saad Hariri\, Ilham Aliyev\, Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan\, Paul Kagame\, the new Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa\, and Argentina’s Mauricio Macri with Doris Leuthard. \nHe also debates in public: on fragile cities; on the social contract of the 21st century with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos in an SRF programme; on democracy in the post-truth era at the Open Forum. At the dinner of Swiss personalities\, he links Davos to “fake news” through Arthur Conan Doyle\, who made the world believe Sherlock Holmes was dead\, and defends solidarity between the language regions against the “No Billag” initiative. \nMonday 22 January 2018 — Davos\n\nMeeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi\n\nTuesday 23 January 2018 — Davos\n\nOpening speech at the Annual Meeting\, with Klaus Schwab\nMeeting with Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan\nPanel “From Fragile Cities to Renewal”\nDinner hosted by Klaus Schwab\, address\nSwiss Personalities Dinner\, address\n\nWednesday 24 January 2018 — Davos\n\nDigital Switzerland breakfast\nMeetings with Saad Hariri\, Prime Minister of Lebanon\, and Benjamin Netanyahu\, Prime Minister of Israel\nSRF television debate “The 21st Century Social Compact”\, with Juan Manuel Santos\nMeetings with Chancellor Angela Merkel\, President Ilham Aliyev\, President Paul Kagame and European Commissioner Pierre Moscovici\nMeeting with Argentine President Mauricio Macri\, with Doris Leuthard\nMeeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May\n\nThursday 25 January 2018 — Davos\n\nMeetings with Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa\, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko\nOpen Forum “Democracy in a Post-Truth Era”\n\nSpeeches on this site \n\nAnnual Meeting of the World Economic Forum 2018\nAllocution au dîner du WEF offert par Klaus Schwab (French-language page)\nAllocution au « Swiss Personalities Dinner » du WEF (in German\, French-language page)\n\nSources \n\nFederal Council\, speech of 23.01.2018\nFederal Council\, press release of 18.01.2018\nFederal Council\, press release of 24.01.2018
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/world-economic-forum-opening-speech-and-bilateral-meetings/
LOCATION:Davos
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180121
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180123
DTSTAMP:20261020T173056Z
CREATED:20261015T213354Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173056Z
UID:45720-1516492800-1516665599@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:Conference of European Ministers of Culture: the Davos Declaration
DESCRIPTION:On the eve of the World Economic Forum\, Alain Berset brings the European ministers of culture together in Davos\, with UNESCO\, ICCROM\, UN-Habitat\, the Council of Europe and the European Union. The theme: building culture\, “Baukultur”. For Switzerland\, the conference opens the European Year of Cultural Heritage. \nIn his opening speech\, he quotes Churchill: “We shape our buildings and afterwards our buildings shape us.” Baukultur\, he says\, goes far beyond architecture: it covers every human activity that changes the built environment\, from heritage to contemporary creation. The Irish architects Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara (Grafton Architects) and the psychologist Colin Ellard open the debates; Klaus Schwab welcomes the ministers on behalf of the WEF. \nOn 22 January\, the delegations adopt the Davos Declaration. It states that building is a cultural act\, denounces urban sprawl and faceless agglomerations\, and calls for a European policy of high-quality Baukultur. In his closing speech\, Alain Berset links the two worlds that meet in Davos: “Without culture\, ladies and gentlemen\, there is no economy.” \nSunday 21 January 2018 — Davos\n\nOpening of the conference\, contributions by Grafton Architects and Colin Ellard\nMinisters’ dialogue\, moderated by Alain Berset\nWelcome address by Klaus Schwab\nOfficial dinner\, toasts by Alain Berset and Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel\n\nMonday 22 January 2018 — Davos\n\nSessions: the role of culture for society; a vision of high-quality Baukultur; a shared responsibility\nAdoption of the Davos Declaration and closing speech\n\nSpeeches on this site \n\nOuverture de la Conférence des ministres européens de la culture sur la culture du bâti (French-language page)\nToast au dîner officiel de la Conférence des ministres européens de la culture (French-language page)\nClôture de la Conférence des ministres européens de la culture sur la culture du bâti (French-language page)\n\nSources \n\nFederal Council\, press release of 22.01.2018\nFederal Council\, press release of 18.01.2018
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/conference-of-european-ministers-of-culture-the-davos-declaration/
LOCATION:Davos
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180117
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180118
DTSTAMP:20261020T173056Z
CREATED:20261015T213349Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173056Z
UID:45718-1516147200-1516233599@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:New Year reception for the diplomatic corps
DESCRIPTION:At the Parliament Building\, Alain Berset receives the heads of mission accredited to Switzerland. The Apostolic Nuncio\, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps\, presents the New Year greetings; the presidents of both chambers attend. \nHe starts from a paradox: “Our time is a time of contradictions.” Life expectancy\, health and education are improving; growth is returning to Europe. But the sense of insecurity is growing\, fed by inequality\, which even the International Monetary Fund calls for fighting. Two tasks\, in his view: share the fruits of the recovery fairly\, and prevent digital technology from deepening divides. One sentence from this speech\, “We seem well prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century”\, will serve him five years later\, in the same place\, to measure what has changed. \nSpeeches on this site \n\nNeujahrsempfang für das diplomatische Corps (in German\, French-language page)\n\nSources \n\nFederal Council\, speech of 17.01.2018
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/new-year-reception-for-the-diplomatic-corps-2/
LOCATION:Berne
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180116
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180117
DTSTAMP:20261020T173056Z
CREATED:20261015T213346Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173056Z
UID:45716-1516060800-1516147199@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:Presentation of credentials
DESCRIPTION:The first ceremony of the year at the Federal Palace. Alain Berset receives seven new ambassadors in audience. They present the letters accrediting them to the Federal Council. \nThey represent Malaysia (Sharrina Binti Abdullah)\, Portugal (António Manuel Ricoca Freire)\, the United Kingdom (Jane Caroline Owen)\, Argentina (Luis María Kreckler)\, Georgia (David Jalagania)\, the Republic of Korea (Kwon Haeryong) and Latvia (Veronika Erte\, resident in Vienna). \nSources \n\nFederal Council\, press release of 16.01.2018
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/presentation-of-credentials/
LOCATION:Berne
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180108
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180110
DTSTAMP:20261020T173055Z
CREATED:20261015T213344Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173055Z
UID:45714-1515369600-1515542399@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:First visit abroad: Vienna
DESCRIPTION:By tradition\, the President of the Swiss Confederation makes his first trip abroad to Austria. On 8 January\, he is at the Vienna International Centre. With Yuri Fedotov\, Director-General of the UN Office at Vienna and of UNODC\, he discusses the return of stolen assets\, drug policy\, human trafficking and money laundering. Yukiya Amano\, Director General of the IAEA\, thanks Switzerland for its contribution to the renovation of the Seibersdorf laboratories; they discuss the nuclear agreement with Iran and North Korea. Next come Thomas Greminger\, OSCE Secretary General\, and Harlem Désir\, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media\, with whom the talk turns to “fake news”. \nOn 9 January\, Alexander Van der Bellen receives him with military honours at the Hofburg. Then come the new Chancellor\, Sebastian Kurz\, the President of the National Council\, Wolfgang Sobotka\, and the Minister for Culture and European Affairs\, Gernot Blümel. Austria is about to hold the presidency of the European Union. Before the press\, Alain Berset calls the EU’s decision to recognise Swiss stock exchange equivalence for one year only “inakzeptabel”: a technical file\, he says\, has been politicised. He argues for a permanent mechanism to distribute asylum seekers across Europe and for the European integration of the Western Balkans. \nThe visit ends at the Leopold Museum\, at the major Ferdinand Hodler exhibition\, which he had placed under his patronage in autumn 2017 with his Austrian counterpart at the time\, Thomas Drozda. It was in Vienna that Hodler gained international fame. \nMonday 8 January 2018 — Vienna\n\nMeeting with Yuri Fedotov\, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna and Executive Director of UNODC\nMeeting with Yukiya Amano\, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency\nMeeting with Thomas Greminger\, OSCE Secretary General\nMeeting with Harlem Désir\, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media\n\nTuesday 9 January 2018 — Vienna\n\nWelcome with military honours by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen at the Hofburg\nOne-to-one meeting\, then talks between the delegations\, with Minister of Health and Social Affairs Beate Hartinger-Klein present\nPress conference with President Van der Bellen\nLunch hosted by the Federal President\nMeeting with Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz\nMeeting with Gernot Blümel\, Minister for Culture and European Affairs\nMeeting with Wolfgang Sobotka\, President of the National Council\nVisit to the exhibition “Ferdinand Hodler. Wahlverwandtschaften von Klimt bis Schiele” at the Leopold Museum\n\nSpeeches on this site \n\nPoint de presse avec le président autrichien Alexander Van der Bellen (in German\, French-language page)\n\nSources \n\nFederal Council\, press release of 09.01.2018\nFederal Council\, press release of 04.01.2018
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/first-visit-abroad-vienna-2/
LOCATION:Vienne
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180101
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180102
DTSTAMP:20261020T173055Z
CREATED:20261015T213340Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173055Z
UID:45712-1514764800-1514851199@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:New Year address
DESCRIPTION:Alain Berset’s first televised address as President of the Swiss Confederation\, broadcast on 1 January. The tone is confident: a stable and safe country\, a solid economy\, thousands of volunteers. He also names the worries: technological change\, job security\, pensions\, reconciling family and work\, the cost of health care. \nHis answer lies in direct democracy: “Wir alle können mitbestimmen\, wie wir leben wollen.” He sets out the debates of the year: pensions\, relations with Europe\, tax justice\, equality between women and men\, climate. And he makes the case for compromise: “Wer die Minderheiten stärkt\, stärkt auch die Schweiz.” \nSources \n\nFederal Chancellery\, Neujahrsansprache 2018\nMoneycab\, 01.01.2018
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/new-year-address/
LOCATION:Berne
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20171221
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20171222
DTSTAMP:20261020T173055Z
CREATED:20261016T001710Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173055Z
UID:47217-1513814400-1513900799@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:National conference on the integration of people with disabilities: third day
DESCRIPTION:The National Conference comes to a close. Social partners\, cantons\, organisations of people with disabilities\, insurers and doctors adopt a joint declaration: integration into the labour market is a task for society as a whole\, and the wish of people with disabilities to work must be heard. \nAlain Berset opens the day with Swiss pragmatism: in 1946\, when the weather turns bad on Lake Geneva\, General Guisan lends Winston Churchill one of his tents\, in which he paints. \nSpeeches on this site \n\nConférence nationale pour l’intégration des personnes handicapées sur le marché du travail : exposé d’ouverture de la 3e journée (in German\, French-language page)\nConférence nationale pour l’intégration des personnes handicapées sur le marché du travail : mot de clôture de la 3e journée (in German\, French-language page)\n\nSources \n\nFederal Council\, press release of 21.12.2017
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/national-conference-on-the-integration-of-people-with-disabilities-third-day/
LOCATION:Berne
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20171218
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20171219
DTSTAMP:20261020T173055Z
CREATED:20261016T001706Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173055Z
UID:47213-1513555200-1513641599@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:Launch of the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018
DESCRIPTION:Alain Berset\, its patron\, launches the Swiss part of the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 in Berne. He announces a conference of European culture ministers in Davos on building culture\, in January\, with a “Davos Declaration”. \n“Wer sind wir?” Clichés are perfect for conversation\, he says\, and we cheat a little: Heidi was invented in Zurich\, the Swiss Alpine Club founded in the station buffet in Olten. “Wir können eben nicht nur Dialekt – wir können auch Dialektik.” \nSpeeches on this site \n\nLancement de l’Année européenne du patrimoine culturel 2018 (in German\, French-language page)\n\nSources \n\nFederal Council\, press release of 18.12.2017
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/launch-of-the-european-year-of-cultural-heritage-2018/
LOCATION:Berne
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20171214
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20171215
DTSTAMP:20261020T173054Z
CREATED:20261016T002047Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173054Z
UID:47208-1513209600-1513295999@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:Presidential celebration in Fribourg
DESCRIPTION:The canton of Fribourg celebrates its President-elect. Before Doris Leuthard and the federal and cantonal authorities\, Alain Berset recalls that this is the third time Fribourg has welcomed him in this way: in 2008 for the presidency of the Council of States\, in 2011 for his election to the Federal Council. \nHe speaks of the cracks in society: between those who benefit from globalisation and those who fear being left behind. “These cracks must not become chasms.” Then comes his praise of compromise: “Ohne Kompromisse keine Schweiz. Wir sind eine Kompromissnation.” \nSpeeches on this site \n\nFête présidentielle à Fribourg (French-language page)
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/presidential-celebration-in-fribourg/
LOCATION:Fribourg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20171210
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20171211
DTSTAMP:20261020T173053Z
CREATED:20261016T001658Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173053Z
UID:47204-1512864000-1512950399@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:Escalade festival: Uri as guest of honour
DESCRIPTION:The Geneva Council of State receives Alain Berset\, President-elect of the Confederation\, and the government of Uri\, guest of honour of the Escalade. They watch the historical procession of the Compagnie de 1602. \nHis speech breaks the Escalade down into three elements: the ladder\, the mask\, the cauldron. He draws a comparison as a Fribourgeois: the Morat-Fribourg has no culinary tradition\, and surviving a Bénichon meal is not an act of heroic resistance. \nSpeeches on this site \n\nFête de l’Escalade : Uri hôte d’honneur (French-language page)\n\nSources \n\nRepublic and Canton of Geneva\, 08.12.2017
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/escalade-festival-uri-as-guest-of-honour/
LOCATION:Genève
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20171208
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20171209
DTSTAMP:20261020T173053Z
CREATED:20261016T001654Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173053Z
UID:47200-1512691200-1512777599@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:Basel Carnival on the UNESCO heritage list
DESCRIPTION:On 7 December\, UNESCO inscribes the Basler Fasnacht on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The following evening\, the Basel government and the Fasnachts-Comité thank some 550 people who worked on the nomination; Alain Berset is their guest. \nHe pretends to breach official secrecy: the Federal Council’s discussion of the nomination supposedly took place… in Schnitzelbank verse\, in Basel dialect. \nSpeeches on this site \n\nInscription du Carnaval de Bâle au patrimoine culturel immatériel de l’UNESCO (in German\, French-language page)\n\nSources \n\nCanton of Basel-Stadt\, press release of 08.12.2017\nFederal Council\, press release of 07.12.2017
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/basel-carnival-on-the-unesco-heritage-list/
LOCATION:Bâle
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20171206
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20171207
DTSTAMP:20261020T173053Z
CREATED:20261016T001650Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173053Z
UID:47196-1512518400-1512604799@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:Election as President of the Confederation for 2018
DESCRIPTION:The Federal Assembly elects Alain Berset President of the Confederation for 2018\, with 190 votes out of 210 valid ballots. Ueli Maurer is elected Vice-President. \nIn his address\, in French\, Italian\, Romansh and German\, he announces a collegial presidency\, together with the six other members of the government. He sets out his line: “Wir sind weder Maximalisten noch Minimalisten\, wir sind Realistinnen und Realisten.” \nSpeeches on this site \n\nAllocution après l’élection à la présidence de la Confédération pour 2018 (French-language page)\n\nSources \n\nFederal Assembly\, Official Bulletin\, 06.12.2017\nThe Local\, 07.12.2017
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/election-as-president-of-the-confederation-for-2018/
LOCATION:Berne
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20171204
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20171205
DTSTAMP:20261020T173052Z
CREATED:20261016T001646Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173052Z
UID:47192-1512345600-1512431999@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:Churchill Europe Symposium: “Democracy requires vigilance”
DESCRIPTION:In Zurich\, Alain Berset speaks at the Churchill Europe Symposium\, which commemorates Churchill’s 1946 speech. He opens with the two busts of Churchill at the White House — one of them a copy — and the two Churchills invoked by supporters and opponents of the EU. \nHis thesis: democracy must be defended against the populism that attacks institutions. “Die Demokratie ist ein nationales Selbstgespräch\, das nie abbricht. Sie kann nicht auf Autopilot geschaltet werden.” \nSpeeches on this site \n\nDemokratie erfordert Wachsamkeit (in German\, French-language page)\n\nSources \n\nFederal Council\, speech of 04.12.2017
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/churchill-europe-symposium-democracy-requires-vigilance/
LOCATION:Zurich
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20171123
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20171124
DTSTAMP:20261020T173052Z
CREATED:20261016T002039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173052Z
UID:47188-1511395200-1511481599@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:Jura cantonal health day
DESCRIPTION:Alain Berset speaks at the cantonal health day organised by the Republic and Canton of Jura. The theme: the future of public health in the face of innovation\, digitalisation and big data. \nHe starts from Benjamin Franklin: the only certainties are death and taxes. Then he moves on to the electronic patient record. \nSpeeches on this site \n\nJournée cantonale de la santé du Jura (French-language page)
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/jura-cantonal-health-day/
LOCATION:Delémont
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20171123
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20171124
DTSTAMP:20261020T173052Z
CREATED:20261016T001638Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173052Z
UID:47184-1511395200-1511481599@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:Visit by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker
DESCRIPTION:Doris Leuthard receives Jean-Claude Juncker in Berne\, accompanied by Federal Councillors Alain Berset and Ignazio Cassis. Both sides take a positive view of the year and confirm the bilateral approach. \nSwitzerland and the EU sign the agreement linking their CO2 emissions trading systems. \nSources \n\nFederal Council\, press release of 23.11.2017
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/visit-by-european-commission-president-jean-claude-juncker/
LOCATION:Berne
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20171109
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20171110
DTSTAMP:20261020T173052Z
CREATED:20261016T002036Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173052Z
UID:47180-1510185600-1510271999@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:University of Berne: reform and direct democracy
DESCRIPTION:Alain Berset speaks in Professor Adrian Vatter’s course on Swiss politics at the University of Berne\, six weeks after the defeat of Old-Age Provision 2020. \nHis point: in a direct democracy\, reforms are slow\, but they last. Elsewhere\, things move faster\, and are sometimes reversed. \nSpeeches on this site \n\nUniversité de Berne : réforme et démocratie directe (in German\, French-language page)
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/university-of-berne-reform-and-direct-democracy/
LOCATION:Berne
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20171103
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20171104
DTSTAMP:20261020T173051Z
CREATED:20261016T002033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173051Z
UID:47176-1509667200-1509753599@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:Opening of the Geneva International Film Festival
DESCRIPTION:Alain Berset opens the 23rd edition of the Geneva festival\, which this year swaps the name Festival tous écrans for GIFF. \nHe makes light of it: “Personally\, I have nothing against Shakespeare”\, but all the same\, coming from the homeland of Rousseau “and very nearly of Voltaire”. \nSpeeches on this site \n\nOuverture du Geneva International Film Festival (GIFF) (French-language page)
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/opening-of-the-geneva-international-film-festival/
LOCATION:Genève
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20171031
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20171101
DTSTAMP:20261020T173051Z
CREATED:20261016T001628Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173051Z
UID:47172-1509408000-1509494399@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:National meeting on equal pay in the public sector
DESCRIPTION:Some 140 members of executive bodies and specialists gather for the third National Meeting on equal pay in the public sector. Alain Berset invites cantons and communes to sign the Charter for Equal Pay: twelve cantons and 24 cities have done so\, representing two thirds of the population. \nIn the public sector\, women earn on average 16.6% less than men; 42% of this gap remains unexplained. His speech starts from Obelix: “A woman could never replace me. Carving menhirs is far too delicate a job!” \nSpeeches on this site \n\n3e Rencontre nationale pour l’égalité salariale dans le secteur public (in German\, French-language page)\n\nSources \n\nFederal Council\, press release of 31.10.2017
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/national-meeting-on-equal-pay-in-the-public-sector/
LOCATION:Berne
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20171027
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20171028
DTSTAMP:20261020T173051Z
CREATED:20261016T001624Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173051Z
UID:47169-1509062400-1509148799@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:Old-age provision: talks resume
DESCRIPTION:A month after the no vote of 24 September\, Alain Berset brings together more than twenty-five parties\, social partners and organisations in Berne. For more than two hours\, each analyses the result and sets out its vision. \nThe finding: no convergence on the outline of a new reform\, but all recognise that one is needed. The Federal Council draws its conclusions on 20 December: OASI and the second pillar will be reformed separately. \nSources \n\nFederal Council\, press release of 27.10.2017
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/old-age-provision-talks-resume/
LOCATION:Berne
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20171024
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20171025
DTSTAMP:20261020T173051Z
CREATED:20261016T001621Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173051Z
UID:47165-1508803200-1508889599@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:40 years of the Kartause Ittingen Foundation
DESCRIPTION:Alain Berset celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Kartause Ittingen Foundation (TG). He recounts the Federal Council’s 1981 outing: faced with the monks’ rule\, Chevallaz advises Ritschard to pray more for his finances; Ritschard replies that Chevallaz should sleep more so as to spend less on the army. \n“Die Kartause Ittingen verkörpert eine Form der Weltabgeschiedenheit\, an der man Kraft sammelt für die Welt.” \nSpeeches on this site \n\n40 Jahre Stiftung Kartause Ittingen (in German\, French-language page)\n\nSources \n\nFederal Council\, speech of 24.10.2017
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/40-years-of-the-kartause-ittingen-foundation/
LOCATION:Ittingen
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20171012
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20171013
DTSTAMP:20261020T173050Z
CREATED:20261016T001617Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173050Z
UID:47161-1507766400-1507852799@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:Swiss Grand Award for Dance to Noemi Lapzeson
DESCRIPTION:At the Théâtre Équilibre in Fribourg\, Alain Berset presents the Swiss Grand Award for Dance to Noemi Lapzeson\, choreographer\, founder of Vertical Danse in Geneva and a former soloist with Martha Graham. \n“Dancing is a political act.” He calls on La Fontaine and the cicada\, then on Article 10 of the Constitution: freedom of movement. \nSpeeches on this site \n\nRemise du Grand Prix suisse de danse à Noemi Lapzeson (French-language page)\n\nSources \n\nFederal Council\, press release of 12.10.2017
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/swiss-grand-award-for-dance-to-noemi-lapzeson/
LOCATION:Fribourg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20171010
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20171011
DTSTAMP:20261020T173050Z
CREATED:20261016T001614Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173050Z
UID:47157-1507593600-1507679999@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:Opening of the Frankfurt Book Fair
DESCRIPTION:Alain Berset attends the opening of the Frankfurt Book Fair\, where France is the guest of honour\, with Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron. “Francfort en français” presents twelve authors from French-speaking Switzerland. \nAt the City Hall\, he signs the city’s Golden Book after the French President\, together with the delegations of Luxembourg and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. After the ceremony\, Emmanuel Macron receives him at the French pavilion in the presence of Angela Merkel; Alain Berset presents the Swiss contribution there. \nTuesday 10 October 2017 — Frankfurt\n\nVisit to the Grossmarkthalle\, headquarters of the ECB\, designed by Martin Elsaesser\nReception at the City Hall by Mayor Peter Feldmann\, with Emmanuel Macron: Golden Book\nOpening ceremony of the Book Fair\nVisit to the French pavilion with Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel\n\nSources \n\nFederal Council\, press release of 05.10.2017
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/opening-of-the-frankfurt-book-fair/
LOCATION:Francfort
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20170924
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20170925
DTSTAMP:20261020T173050Z
CREATED:20261016T001611Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173050Z
UID:47153-1506211200-1506297599@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:Vote: Old-Age Provision 2020 reform rejected
DESCRIPTION:The people reject the Old-Age Provision 2020 reform\, with 52.7% voting no. The VAT increase in favour of OASI ends up neck and neck in the popular vote and fails to win a majority of the cantons. It is the reform Alain Berset has been championing since 2012. \nBefore the press\, he acknowledges the result: “The funding and stabilisation of the pension system remains a major challenge for our society.” He announces that he will invite all stakeholders to discuss the next steps. “In a direct democracy you always have to be prepared to accept defeat.” \nSources \n\nswissinfo.ch\, 24.09.2017\nFederal Council\, vote of 24.09.2017
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/vote-old-age-provision-2020-reform-rejected/
LOCATION:Berne
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20170913
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20170914
DTSTAMP:20261020T173049Z
CREATED:20261016T001608Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T173049Z
UID:47149-1505260800-1505347199@alainberset.ch
SUMMARY:“Rilke and Russia” exhibition at the National Library
DESCRIPTION:At the National Library\, Alain Berset opens the exhibition “Rilke and Russia”\, a co-production of the German Literature Archive in Marbach\, the Swiss Literary Archives\, the Strauhof and the State Literary Museum in Moscow. \n280 items\, including the poet’s address book\, which opens with Lou Andreas-Salomé\, his companion on the journeys of 1899 and 1900. The exhibition\, he says\, knows that these journeys cannot be reconstructed. \nSpeeches on this site \n\nOuverture de l’exposition « Rilke et la Russie » à la Bibliothèque nationale (in German\, French-language page)\n\nSources \n\nFederal Council\, press release of 12.09.2017
URL:https://alainberset.ch/en/evenement/rilke-and-russia-exhibition-at-the-national-library/
LOCATION:Berne
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR