Swiss Review 3/2018

27 Swiss Review / May 2018 / No.3 Votes and Elections Voting proposals are determined by the Federal Council at least four months before the voting date. Other voting dates in 2018: 23 September, 25 November All information on the proposals (voting pamphlets, committees, recommendations by Parliament and the Federal Council, elec- tronic voting, etc.) can be found at www.admin.ch/votes. Popular initiatives The following federal popular initiatives had been launched at the time of going to press (deadline for the collection of signatures in brackets): ■ ■ “Yes to the protection of children and young people against advertising (children and young people without tobacco advertis- ing)” (20/9/2019) The list of pending popular initiatives can be found in German at www.bk.admin.ch > Politische Rechte > Volksinititativen > Hängige Volksinitativen In addition, there are also newer sources of information, such as the embassy news- letters. After providing their email ad- dresses, 65% of Swiss households abroad can today receive an embassy newsletter by email from the representations. Six- ty-six Swiss representations produce such newsletters for anyone interested. Efforts tomaintain contact by the rep- resentations: The representations never- theless also seek personal contact with the Swiss Abroad. In 2017, they organised 65 national celebrations themselves and supported 54 events organised by clubs. 33 representations also held an event for young Swiss Abroad. These are just some of the occasions to which the Swiss rep- resentations invite thousands of Swiss Abroad each year. Via feedback fromthe representations and personal contact with a lot of people, but also through reports from the Coun- cil of the Swiss Abroad – the official body of the Swiss Abroad – the FDFA is aware that the services and availability of the Swiss representations are greatly appre- ciated. As far as the Consular Directorate is concerned, we appreciate the smooth cooperation with the institutions and so- cieties of the Swiss Abroad and encourage all Swiss Abroad to get involvedwith such organisations or the OSA. JÜRG BURRI, DIRECTOR OF THE CONSULAR DIRECTORATE Digitalisation, changing life situations, new migration patterns and many other challenges will continue to shape the needs of the Swiss community abroad. The Consular Directorate will continue its en- deavours to provide you all withmodern services in cooperationwith key partners, such as the OSA. The quality of these services reflects the importance that federal government attaches to its citizens abroad. Helping to optimise these services over the past four years has given me tremendous personal pleasure – I wish the Swiss Abroad, the Consular Directorate andmy successor all the very best for the future. AmbassadorJürg Burri, Director of the Consular Directo- rate from 2014 to June 2018. He will take up the position of Swiss ambassador to Poland and Belarus in summer 2018. Photo: FDFA Ambassador Johannes Matyassy, Head of the Asia and Pacific Division at the Di- rectorate of Political Affairs, will be the Director of the Con- sular Directorate from August 2018. Photo: FDFA Consular services anywhere, conveniently on your mobile devices Vietnam (2018) www.fdfa.admin.ch Photo © Lorenzo Barelli Votes and Elections Responsible for FDFA official communications: Simone Flubacher, Relations with the Swiss Abroad Effingerstrasse 27, 3003 Berne, Switzerland Tel. +41 800 24 7 365 or +41 58 465 33 33 www.eda.admin.ch , email: helpline@eda.admin.ch