Ordinance on Swiss Nationals and Institutions Abroad: consultation process commences
Bern, 18.02.2015 - At its meeting today, the Federal Council opened the consultation process for the preliminary draft of the Ordinance on Swiss Nationals and Institutions Abroad (Swiss Abroad Ordinance, SAO). This ordinance aims to facilitate the implementation of the Federal Act on Swiss Nationals and Institutions Abroad (Swiss Abroad Act, SAA). The SAA brings together in a single piece of legislation the most important provisions on Swiss nationals living abroad.
The Swiss Abroad Act, drafted by the Council of States as a result of a parliamentary initiative (11.446 Pa. Iv. Lombardi «For a Swiss Abroad Act»), was adopted by the Federal Assembly on 26 September 2014. It takes account of the increasing mobility of Swiss citizens.
The Swiss Abroad Act does not introduce any fundamentally new rights or obligations, but brings together in a single piece of legislation the most important provisions governing the over 746,000 Swiss citizens living abroad which were previously spread across several different laws, ordinances and regulations. It combines the political rights of Swiss citizens living abroad, social assistance, consular protection and other consular services. The principle of using electronic voting as an option for popular votes and elections was included in the law. The Federal Council may also take measures to promote the exercise of political rights by Swiss citizens living abroad. The SAA is also the basis for the federal government's support for institutions that promote relations among Swiss citizens living abroad and their relations with Switzerland, and that provide Swiss nationals living abroad with assistance.
The Swiss Abroad Act and its implementing provisions are consistent with the Federal Council's overall, coherent Swiss Abroad policy. The cantons will also play an active role in the implementation of the law, being directly involved in the political rights of Swiss nationals living abroad and the provision of social assistance.
In view of the scheduled entry into force on 1 November 2015, today the Federal Council opened the consultation process for the draft Swiss Abroad Ordinance. It will run until 31 May 2015.
Address for enquiries
FDFA Information
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info@eda.admin.ch
Publisher
The Federal Council
https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
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