Media Releases

Press Release (14.05.2012, fedpol)
MROS registers a 40 percent increase in reporting volume
Berne. The Money Laundering Reporting Office Switzerland (MROS) registered a significant increase in the number of incoming suspicious activity reports (SARs) in 2011. MROS received a total of 1,625 SARs, an increase of 40 percent over 2010. The total asset value involved also rose to a record sum of over CHF 3 billion, more than the 2009 and 2010 reporting years together.

---

Press Release (26.04.2012, FOM)
New edition of a popular read
Bern. The fourth edition of the brochure "Foreigners and asylum seekers in Switzerland. The Federal Office for Migration: Activities at a glance" has been published. Since first appearing in 2005, this brochure has become very popular and is greatly appreciated by schools, private individuals and political delegations alike as a reliable source of information.

---

Press Release (18.04.2012, FDJP)
Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons Switzerland – EU: Invocation of the Safeguard Clause with respect to the EU-8 States
Berne. At its meeting today, the Federal Council has decided to invoke the safeguard clause provided for in the Agreement between Switzerland and the EU on the free movement of persons, applying it to the EU-8 Member States. As of 1 May 2012, category B residence permits granted to citizens of these countries will be subject to quotas. Furthermore, the Federal Council has decided to examine additional measures in the domain of accompanying measures and on the issue of integration.

---

Press Release (04.04.2012, FOJ)
Tomas Pitr extradited to the Czech Republic
Berne. Switzerland today extradited Tomas Pitr to the Czech Republic. He flew today from Zurich to Prague, accompanied by three Czech police officers.

---

Press Release (21.03.2012, FOJ)
Extradition to Serbia
Berne. A man accused of participating in war crimes was today extradited by Switzerland to Serbia. He flew from Zurich to Belgrade this afternoon, accompanied by three Serbian police officers.

---

Press Release (07.03.2012, FOM)
Swiss commitment to North Africa, one year later
Bern. Early last year, Switzerland responded quickly to political upheavals in Northern Africa. Realizing that major security, migration and economic interests depend on stable democratic conditions, Switzerland felt the need to actively support the democratic transition process in this region. On 11 March 2011, the Federal Council issued mandates to three Federal Departments to intensify their activities and quickly develop new and tangible support measures. The three Federal Departments were also instructed to act in a coordinated, coherent and complementary fashion. How does the support programme in Northern Africa look one year later and what has Switzerland achieved?

---

Press Release (24.02.2012, FDJP)
Switzerland hosts a conference on international coordination in the fight against terrorism
Bern. To optimise counter-terrorism coordination between the recently established Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), the UN, and other international and regional organisations, Switzerland hosted an international conference in Interlaken on 23 and 24 February 2012. The conference was organised by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA and opened by Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga. The conference helped coordinate the activities of the various actors in the fight against terrorism and underscored the key role played by the UN.