British Residents' Association of Switzerland » Uncategorized

QUEEN’S DIAMOND JUBILEE CONCERT

webmaster — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 17:29:40 +0000

Details of this event are now available.

Magazine article on British Residents in France

webmaster — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:39:12 +0000

Do you live in France but work in Switzerland? I am a writer for an English language magazine (Living France) and I’m writing about the frontalier experience. I would love to speak to you about your life, why you’ve chosen to live in France, and the lifestyle you have. The article will feature three different people/families and will include photos. My deadline is December 10th. If you’d like to be featured in the article, please contact me on 064 343 52 96. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Lorraine Chandler

ROMANDIE EAST’S NEW CHAIRMAN

webmaster — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:20:39 +0000

A warm welcome to Farrol Kahn, the new Chairman of the Romandie East Region, who has succeeded Andrew Wells following the latter’s return to the United Kingdom.

11 Sep 2011

He joined the BRA last year after moving from the UK and is the author of a number of books, particularly on aviation medecine, and the founder of the Aviation Health Institute in Oxford. Mr Kahn’s latest book, Valais – An Undiscovered Swiss Canton, was launched at the Fondation Pierre Gianadda in Martigny on 1 September (see Past Events).

Farrol has been frantically busy since he joined us giving interviews on World Radio Switzerland and, unbelievably, for MyGirlfriendGuide to Zurich!

CONSULAR NETWORK IN SWITZERLAND

webmaster — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 21:06:37 +0000

The British Embassy has now completed its restructuring of the consular network in Switzerland, which has been underway since summer 2010. The objective of the restructuring has been to ensure that British citizens can access the right professional consular assistance as quickly as possible in the event of need. We have therefore centralised and expanded our professional consular team in Berne. At the same time, we have appointed a new network of Consular Wardens. Unlike the previous Honorary Consuls, the Consular Wardens are not officially recognised by the Swiss authorities as consular agents under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and so will not provide consular services or have their contact details published. The Consular Wardens will provide the Embassy with assistance and advice in the event of emergencies or unusual events affecting British citizens.

The Embassy is pleased to announce the following Consular Warden appointments:

Peter Steimle - Ticino region
Erwin Burn – Basle and Zurich region
Jean-Marc Thevenaz - Geneva region

All consular services will be delivered by the Embassy in Berne and all queries directed there. The Embassy website contains information about passport and visa matters, as well as consular services: www.ukinswitzerland.fco.gov.uk

IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY

With the closure of the Consulate General in Geneva and the Honorary Consulates elsewhere, BRA Members may be wondering what happens, for example, in the case of an emergency affecting a British national after Embassy office hours. The BRA has been advised that if the caller feels that it is indeed an emergency and cannot wait until the Embassy reopens, they should listen to the recorded message on its switchboard, 031 3597700, for instructions on connecting to a help-desk at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London. If the response team feels that it is a genuine emergency, they will call one of the Consular team in Berne and provide all the details. The duty Consular officer will then contact the British national.

Switzerland, a very short introduction

webmaster — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 17:16:36 +0000

For expatriates, Swiss ways and customs might sometimes appear peculiar.

How can you improve your chances to integrate better? How can you make the most of your professional expertise in the specific context that characterizes Switzerland?

To help you understand what makes Switzerland so Swiss, the EPFL is organizing a new course:

Switzerland, a very short introduction

in 6 modules from October to December 2011

Renowned experts from academia, business and politics will share their insights on the political, economic, legal, social and cultural characteristics of Switzerland.

For additional information click here

CONTINUING EDUCATION UNIL-EPFL
CH-1015 Lausanne
Tel.: +41 21 693 71 20

formcont@unil.ch

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

webmaster — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 17:13:49 +0000

The BRA Council, together with other British organizations in Switzerland is organizing a grand gala in the Victoria Hall, Geneva on 21 April 2012. Watch this space for more details.

Revised Articles of Association

webmaster — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 21:04:06 +0000

Following the decisions taken at the AGM 2011 a new version of the Articles of Association is available for you to download on our “Documents” page.

NEW CONSULAR STRUCTURE

webmaster — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:35:34 +0000

With the closure of the Honorary Consular network, the British Embassy is now beginning to finalize its consular structure for Switzerland.
Underpinning the centralized provision of all consular services in Berne will be a network of Wardens whom the Embassy will be able to contact in the case of an emergency. Wardens will differ from Honorary Consuls as they will not be providing any consular services nor will their contact details be published. All consular queries should be addressed to the Embassy in Berne.
We are pleased to announce that Peter Steimle, the former Honorary Consul based in Lugano, has agreed to become the network’s first Warden.

Ian Swann. HM Consul General & Head of
Corporate Services, British Embassy,
Thunstrasse 50, CH-3005 Berne, e- mail:
ian.swann@fco.gov.uk,
Tel: 031 3597739, 022 9182452

VOTES FOR BRITISH EXPATS?

webmaster — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:16:46 +0000

Under UK law, expatriates who have spent more than 15 years abroad are denied the vote. But World War II veteran, Harry Shindler, who lives in Italy, has gone to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in an effort to change the British Government’s mind. As a result of his submission, the ECHR has asked the Government to reply to a number of questions.
During a House of Lords debate on 2 March, Viscount Astor (Conservative) requested the Government to consider changing voting arrangements for British citizens residing abroad and members of the Armed Forces serving abroad. The proposal had wide cross party support during the debate and as a result, the Parliamentary Secretary for Political and Constitutional Reform, Mark Harper, was informed and appeared to be minded to introduce a bill. Time will tell whether it will produce the desired result.
For more detailed information, see these websites: European Court for Human Rights (Harry Shindler case) and Votes for Expat Brits

Dr Sylvia Moore

Changes to the Honorary Consul Network

webmaster — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 10:30:39 +0000

The British Community will be aware that in October 2010 the Consulate-General in Geneva closed, with the Consular services being centralised to the Embassy in Berne.

In conjunction with the Regional Consular Director for North West Europe we have now undertaken a review of the Honorary Consul network in Switzerland to ensure that we are able to offer the best possible service delivery arrangements for the most economical use of resources.

The outcome of this review is that with effect from 01 April the Honorary Consuls in Sion, Vevey and Zurich will close.

We are finalising our proposals for future British Honorary Consular representation in Switzerland with the Swiss authorities, and hope to announce these soon.

Finally we would like to pay tribute to the very generous spirit in which Andy Bushnell, Sandra Darra and Roger Balsiger have served as British Honorary Consuls, and extend our sincere thanks to them.

Ian Swann