FDF
Some 9000 people work in the Federal Department of Finance on a wide range of projects for Switzerland’s future. The FDF plans and implements decisions of the Federal Council on resources in the following areas: Finances, Personnel, Construction and IT. At the head of the FDF is Federal Councillor Hans-Rudolf Merz. It is his aim to balance federal finances as healthy finances are the best guarantee of the country’s future. The core activities of the FDF directly affect the performance of the social state and the attractiveness of Switzerland as a location for business. The FDF essentially performs three main functions:
- Policy Formulation
- Provision of Services
- Implementation
Policy Formulation
On the one hand, fiscal policy is the product of priorities decided by the people, the parliament and the Federal Council. On the other, it sets the levels of expenditure on social services, agriculture, transport, education and security.
Given tough international competition and limited public resources the fundamental question arises: What kind of State services can Switzerland afford? This is the reason why the FDF is stepping up projects that seek to improve conditions so business can flourish, that stop debt, that improve the efficiency of the administration and that improve conditions to guarantee social programmes for the future.
Provision of Services
As a customer-oriented resources department, the FDF provides services for the entire Federal Administration. These range from IT and training to the allocation of workspace and equipment. Great emphasis is also placed on altering mentalities from that of traditional government official to modern federal employee. The success of such a process requires not only a willingness on the part of staff, but must also be accompanied by adequate information and training on the part of the Federation. Furthermore, the FDF ensures that staff conditions in the Federation are adapted to the increasing need for mobility and modern methods of financing.
Implementation
Finally, the FDF also has to carry out tasks that are less popular, but which are nevertheless important for the running of the State: The collection of taxes and duties (over CHF 40 billion per year), carrying out checks on people and goods at the border, monitoring trade in alcohol, processing payment transactions or enforcing severe savings measures in the Federation. Such tasks demand not only persistence and determination, but also understanding for those affected.
The FDF is headed by Hans-Rudolf Merz.
Mr Merz was elected to fill Kaspar Villiger’s seat on the Federal Council at the start of 2004. Up to that point he had represented canton Appenzell Ausserrhoden in the Council of States.
On 10 December 2008, he was elected President of the Swiss Confederation for 2009 by the United Federal Assembly.
Hans-Rudolf Merz is a member of the Radical Free Democratic Party (FDP).
Contact:
General Secretariat FDF
Federal Department of Finance
Bundesgasse 3, 3003 Bern, Tel 031 322 21 11
info@gs-efd.admin.ch
http://www.efd.admin.ch