The Swiss Finance Council was established in November 2013 to engage in dialogue around policy developments in finance at a European and international level. It represents the interests of internationally active Swiss financial institutions and provides a platform to share their experience, expertise and knowledge through a permanent representative office in Brussels, thereby supporting the work of the Swiss Bankers Association in EU-related matters.
The Swiss Finance Council articulates and advocates the common interests of its members, provides a voice for their joint positions and a source of knowledge and experience in finance for policy makers and the industry at large. The organization enables its members to participate in policy discussions regarding European and international finance-related issues and develops positions and contributes on their behalf in the international and EU-level policy-making process.
The organization is led by a board, which is comprised of the Chairmen of the two founding members, Urs Rohner and Axel Weber, as well as Alexis Lautenberg, who has agreed to be Chairman of the Council as well as the Chairman of the Brussels representative office. A secretary of the board supports the board in Switzerland.
The Swiss Finance Council focuses on issues of relevance to international financial institutions, including:
- MiFID II
- European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR)
- Banking Union
- Key developments in taxation policies
- Structural Reforms
- The Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive
