Unter der Koordination des Staatssekretariats für Wirtschaft SECO haben die zuständigen kantonalen Stellen im Jahre 2012 Kontrollen über die Preisanschrift in einzelnen Branchen durchgeführt. In der deutschsprachigen Schweiz wurde die Preisanschrift in Textilreinigungen kontrolliert, in der französischsprachigen Schweiz und im Tessin die Preisanschrift in Coiffeurgeschäften, Kosmetik- und Körperpflegeinstituten. Die Kontrollkampagne soll im nächsten Jahr fortgeführt werden.

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.

Swiss companies are to receive long-term support for innovative activities. The Commission for Technology and Innovation CTI has developed a new strategy for promoting Knowledge and Technology Transfer (KTT). National thematic networks (NTNs), innovation mentors (IMs) and physical and web-based plat-forms are ready to be introduced in early 2013.

Die Schweiz und die Europäische Union (EU) haben am 17. Dezember 2012 das Abkommen über die gegenseitige Anerkennung von Konformitätsbewertungen (Mutual Recognition Agreement, MRA CH-EU), um ein Kapitel über Sprengstoffe für zivile Zwecke erweitert. Das Abkommen wurde im Rahmen der Bilateralen I abgeschlossen. Gleichzeitig wurde das Kapitel über Spielzeuge im MRA CH-EU aktualisiert. Die Änderungen treten am heutigen Tag in Kraft.

Economic forecasts from the Federal Government's Expert Group - Winter 2012/2013*. As a result of deteriorating global economic conditions, economic activity also slowed in Switzerland in 2012, with unemployment reporting a slight rise. However, the growth in GDP clearly remained in positive territory (forecast 2012 +1%). The short term economic outlook for the months ahead is mixed, although there are still no signs of the situation worsening into a more pronounced downturn. Providing the sovereign debt crisis in the Euro region remains under control and the global economy gradually returns to a firmer footing, the Swiss economy could regain momentum during the next two years. The Federal Governments Expert Group is reaffirming its previous assessment which anticipates moderate GDP growth for 2013 (+1.3%) and which could strengthen further in 2014 (+2%). Unemployment is expected to further rise slightly in 2013.

Das SECO stellt neu in Zusammenarbeit mit anderen Bundesstellen eine elektronische Importplattform für die Suche nach technischen Vorschriften für Produkte zur Verfügung. Die Seite erleichtert das Auffinden der für die verschiedenen Produkte anwendbaren Vorschriften und Regelungen, die beim Inverkehrbringen in der Schweiz zu beachten sind. Die Importplattform informiert auch über Produkte, die beispielsweise aufgrund von staatsvertraglichen Vereinbarungen, insbesondere mit der Europäischen Union, in der Schweiz vereinfacht auf den Markt gebracht werden können.

Participants at the Doha Climate Change Conference have agreed on December 8th 2012 to assist developing countries with a global climate network supported by UNIDO, the UN Industrial Development Organisation. At the heart of this initiative is the SECO-supported Cleaner Production programme.

Arbeitslosigkeit im November 2012. Gemäss den Erhebungen des Staatssekretariats für Wirtschaft (SECO) waren Ende November 2012 132'067 Arbeitslose bei den Regionalen Arbeitsvermittlungszentren (RAV) eingeschrieben, 6'531 mehr als im Vormonat. Die Arbeitslosenquote stieg damit von 2,9% im Oktober 2012 auf 3,1% im Berichtsmonat. Gegenüber dem Vorjahresmonat erhöhte sich die Arbeitslosigkeit um 10'958 Personen (+9,0%).

At its meeting today the Federal Council took cognizance of the current talks with the European Union. It was stressed at the meeting that further development of the bilateral way, which Switzerland has proposed to the European Union, remains its priority. It also took note of the fact that the internal EU process with regard to Switzerland's institutional proposals is continuing. The dialogue between Switzerland and the EU will be resumed in the new year.

The 58th meeting of the Joint Committee set up by the Free Trade Agreement between Switzerland and the EU took place today in Lucerne under the Chair-manship of Switzerland. The year 2012 is a benchmark year as it marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Agreement. The Committee noted that, on the whole, the Agreement has functioned well, and continues to serve as an im-portant instrument in facilitating trade between Switzerland and the EU.

The real gross domestic product (GDP) for Switzerland increased in the third quarter 2012 by 0.6%* compared with the second quarter of 2012, with private and public consumption and the balance of trade in goods contributing towards the growth in GDP. By contrast, the export of services and fixed investments had a negative impact. On the production side most sectors of the economy reported an increase in their value-added in the third quarter, with industry posting a relatively marked rise. Compared with the third quarter 2011, Swiss GDP grew by 1.4%.

The Sun determines the course of the planets. But the planets may also exert an influence on the Sun. Their configurations appear to be responsible for long-term cycles of increased solar activity. Scientists at Eawag and the ETH Zurich, in collaboration with colleagues from Spain and Australia, have compared cycles of solar magnetic activity over the past 10,000 years - as reconstructed from ice cores - with the action of the planets. The agreement observed is very striking, raising hopes that our ability to forecast periods of intense solar activity may ultimately be improved. This is becoming increasingly important as our society is ever-more dependent on technologies such as satellite communications and navigation systems - as well as power grids - which can be disabled by major solar eruptions.

In Brussels today Switzerland's participation in the European Agency for the operational management of information systems on a large scale (IT Agency) was discussed in a round of negotiations. The participants were the other States associated to Schengen and Dublin, Norway Liechtenstein and Iceland on the one hand and on the other representatives of the European Commission.

Das Stromversorgungsgesetz sieht in den kommenden Jahren eine zweite Stufe der Strommarktliberalisierung vor. Das Staatsekretariat für Wirtschaft SECO hat vor diesem Hintergrund die schweizerische Strommarktregulierung im internationalen Vergleich untersuchen lassen. Die Studie identifiziert für die Schweiz mögliche Regulierungsanpassungen, welche zu einer stärkeren Effizienzausrichtung führen könnten.

Within the context of its transition aid, Switzerland has supported political and economic reform processes in Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) for over 20 years. At the annual conference on Swiss Cooperation with Eastern Europe, experts from the public and private sectors discussed the challenges and outcomes, focusing on employment in the Western Balkans.