Federal Council dispatch to Parliament on supporting three strategic renovation projects – at the Palais des Nations and the headquarters of the WHO and the ILO
Bern, 24.2.2016 - At its meeting of 24 February 2016, the Federal Council adopted a dispatch to Parliament on granting a loan to fund the renovation of the Palais des Nations – European headquarters and premier conference venue of the United Nations (UN). At the end of 2015, the UN General Assembly gave the green light for a complete renovation of the building which was built in the 1930s, thus marking an important strategic stage in ensuring the future attractiveness of International Geneva. The Federal Council has also asked Parliament to grant loans to fund the reconstruction and renovation of the headquarters of two other key international organisations in Geneva – the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO). The aim of Switzerland’s host state policy is to strengthen the attractiveness of Switzerland – and Geneva in particular – as one of the foremost centres of global governance. The Swiss Confederation’s financial contribution to these three renovation projects amounts to CHF 438.4 million in loans.