Conference of the Cantonal Governments

The Conference of the Cantonal Governments (Konferenz der Kantonsregierung., KdK) is a political platform of the cantonal governments in Switzerland, which serves to form opinions and exchange experiences within the cantons as well as to promote cooperation in the representation of interests vis-à-vis the federal government and abroad. Since the cantons, along with the population, are part of the state power of Switzerland, this conference (as are the regional government conferences and the directors' conferences) is of great importance. The KdK serves as the central contact point for the Federal Council as a whole for the federalist dialogue between the administration and the cantons and holds discussion with the Council of States.

Organization

The members of the KdK are the governments of all 26 cantons, with each cantonal government being entitled to one seat in the conference. The General Secretariat, which runs the KdK's business, was transferred to the ch Foundation for Federal Cooperation.

Purpose and tasks

The KdK aims to promote cooperation between the cantons in their area of responsibility together with cities and municipalities. The KdK ensures coordination and the exchange of information, particularly in the following areas:

• Renewal and further development of federalism
• Division of tasks between the federal government and the cantons
• Financial equalization between the federal government and the cantons
• Formation of will and preparation of decisions in the federal government
• Implementation of federal tasks by the cantons
• Foreign, European and integration policy
• COVID-19 pandemic
• E-Government and digitalization

Regional government conference

Regional government conferences (such as the Government Conference of the Mountain Cantons), also known as regional conferences, deal with regional issues that do not need to be addressed at a national level. The KdK maintains regular exchanges with these conferences.

Intercantonal Ministerial Conferences

The KdK works closely with the 14 independent minsters’ conferences. These are formed by the heads of the individual cantonal departments and serve to coordinate activities in the specialist areas of responsibility as well as to prepare joint statements to the federal government. The Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (Schweizerische Konferenz der kantonalen Erziehungsdirektoren, EDK) is e.g. responsibile for the education, culture and sport and Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of construction, planning and the environment (Schweizerische Bau-, Planungs- und Umweltdirektoren-Konferenz, BPUK) or the topics of construction, spatial planning, environment, roads, transport and public procurement.

Intercantonal Ministerial Conferences

Conference/Organization	Abk
Schweizerische Bau-, Planungs- und Umweltdirektoren-Konferenz	BPUK
Konferenz Kantonaler Energiedirektoren	EnDK
Schweizerische Konferenz der kantonalen Erziehungsdirektoren	EDK
Konferenz der kantonalen Finanzdirektoren	FDK
Konferenz für Wald, Wildtiere und Landschaft	KWL
Konferenz der kantonalen Justiz- und Polizeidirektorinnen und -direktoren	KKJPD
Konferenz der kantonalen Direktoren des öffentlichen Verkehrs	KöV
Konferenz Kantonaler Landwirtschaftsdirektoren	LDK
Regierungskonferenz Militär, Zivilschutz und Feuerwehr	RK MZF
Schweizerische Konferenz der kantonalen Gesundheitsdirektorinnen und -direktoren	GDK
Konferenz der kantonalen Sozialdirektoren	SODK
Konferenz Kantonaler Volkswirtschaftsdirektoren	VDK
Konferenz der Kantone für Kindes- und Erwachsenenschutz	KOKES
Schweizerische Staatsschreiberkonferenz	SSK

See also

• Switzerland as a federal state
• Confeerence of Ministers-President, Germany
• Conference of State Governors, Austria

Weblinks

• Website the Conference of the Cantonal Governments
• Regional government conference
• Intercantonal ministerial conference
• Information hub about the conference