Message for the Romanians in the French-speaking part of Swi

"Dear Romanians in French-speaking Switzerland,

We are approaching the second round of our presidential elections. The current geopolitical situation is very complex. The situation is also particularly sensitive in Romania.

I warmly encourage all of you to express your choice by voting. Voting is not only a democratic right, it is a moral duty when the country is facing major challenges and fundamental decisions regarding its future.

Here is the list of polling stations that will be open this weekend:
Alegerile pentru Președintele României 2025 | AMBASADA ROMÂNIEI în Confederaţia Elveţiană 

I will be present at the polling station at the Romanian Mission to the United Nations (37-39 Rue de Vermont, 1202 Geneva) on Sunday between 10:30 AM and 12:00 PM. I hope to see many of you there!"

Dr. Guido Gianasso
Honorary Consul in Geneva
(Cantons of Geneva, Vaud, Fribourg, Valais, Neuchâtel, Jura)

Abroad, the elections for the President of Romania will take place over the course of three days, as follows:

FIRST ROUND

• Friday, May 2, 2025, between 07:00–21:00 (local time);
• Saturday, May 3, 2025, between 07:00–21:00 (local time);
• Sunday, May 4, 2025, between 07:00–20:00 (local time).
   

SECOND ROUND

• Friday, May 16, 2025, between 07:00–21:00 (local time);
• Saturday, May 17, 2025, between 07:00–21:00 (local time);
• Sunday, May 18, 2025, between 07:00–20:00 (local time).
   

Who can vote at polling stations in Switzerland?

Any Romanian citizen residing in Switzerland who is at least 18 years old by election day (inclusive) and has not been deprived of their voting rights by a final court decision.

What documents are required to vote?

• identity card;
• electronic identity card
• provisional identity card;
• old-format identity booklet (buletin);
• regular passport;
• electronic passport;
• temporary passport;
• and, for students in military schools: military service ID.
   

IMPORTANT! Make sure your identification documents are valid on the day of the election!

Where will polling stations be set up?

• Bern: Romanian Orthodox Parish St. Great Martyr George, Kastellweg 7, 3004 Bern;
• Basel: Stellwerk, Vogesenplatz 1, 4056 Basel;
• Bellinzona: Associazione e Spazio Aperto, Via Gerretta 9a, 6500 Bellinzona;
• Geneva 1: Offices of the Permanent Mission of Romania, Rue de Vermont 37–39, 1202 Geneva;
• Geneva 2: Headquarters of the Permanent Mission of Romania, Chemin de la Perrière 6, 1223 Cologny;
• Lausanne: IBIS Lausanne Crissier, Chem. de l’Esparcette 4, 1023 Lausanne;
• Zurich 1: Radisson Blu Hotel, Rondellstrasse, 8058 Zurich Airport;
• Zurich 2: Hilton Garden Inn Zürich Limmattal, Kreuzäckerstrasse 5, 8957 Spreitenbach.

On 1 January, Romania and Bulgaria became full members of the Schengen Area after the checks on persons at the internal land borders were lifted.  

The internal air and sea border controls between Bulgaria and Romania and the countries of the Schengen area were already lifted since 31 March 2024. Welcoming both member states into the Schengen area will boost travel, trade and tourism and contribute to strengthening the internal market. 

The Commission first confirmed that both Bulgaria and Romania were ready to become part of the Schengen area in 2011. Since then, Bulgaria and Romania have continued to demonstrate that they fulfil the conditions for becoming Schengen members.  

Schengen stands for the world’s largest area of freedom, security and justice without internal frontiers. It guarantees free movement to more than 450 million EU citizens, along with non-EU nationals living in the EU or visiting the EU as tourists, exchange students or for business purposes (anyone legally present in the EU).   

The Schengen started in 14 June 1985 when the Schengen Agreement was signed on a river boat. The agreement was signed by the governments of Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.  

The European Union project brought Schengen to its next level. By establishing the right to freedom of movement in 1992, the foundation was laid for a shared European space. The Union framework absorbed all the Schengen rules in 1997 and achieved a further milestone in 2007, enacting the commitment to create an ‘area of freedom, security and justice without internal frontiers’. The Schengen area is the only region in the world where mutual trust between neighbouring countries is so firmly established, and the value of free movement so fundamental, that its Members took the step to abolish border checks, committing to share both the benefits and the responsibilities of this unparalleled integration. 

Today, the Union has 27 Member States and authorises 26 of them – all except Ireland – to engage in close cooperation in all areas covered by the Schengen rules. 4 non-EU countries are associated in this work: Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.  

Schengen is about much more than borderless travel. It calls for coordination both within the Schengen area and with third countries. Schengen States work closely on security and migration through a common visa policy, joint police operations, and real-time information exchanges between law enforcement agencies as well as harmonised procedures to return those with no legal right to stay in the Schengen area. Cutting-edge IT systems, like the Schengen Information System (SIS), help identify threats and manage borders while safeguarding fundamental rights, including data protection.  

Abroad, the elections for the President of Romania will be held over three days for each voting round, as follows:

First Round

• November 22, 2024, from 12:00 to 21:00 (local time);
• November 23, 2024, from 07:00 to 21:00 (local time);
• November 24, 2024, from 07:00 to 21:00 (local time), with the possibility of extending voting hours until 23:59 if voters are still in line at 21:00.

Second Round

• December 6, 2024, from 12:00 to 21:00 (local time);
• December 7, 2024, from 07:00 to 21:00 (local time);
• December 8, 2024, from 07:00 to 21:00 (local time), with the possibility of extending voting hours until 23:59 if voters are still in line at 21:00.

Who can vote at polling stations in Switzerland?

Any Romanian citizen in Switzerland, aged 18 or older on election day, and whose voting rights have not been revoked by a final court decision, may vote at polling stations organized in the Swiss Confederation.

What documents are required to vote?

• identity card;
• electronic identity card;
• temporary identity card;
• identity bulletin;
• simple passport;
• electronic simple passport or
• temporary simple passport;
• and, for students in military schools, the military service card.

ATTENTION! Ensure your identity documents are valid on election day!

Where will the polling stations be organized?

• Bern: Romanian Orthodox Parish St. M. Mc. Gheorghe, Kastellweg 7, 3004 Bern;
• Basel: memox.world | Basel City, Elisabethenstrasse 15, 4051 Basel (!! new location !!);
• Bellinzona: Associazione e Spazio Aperto, Via Gerretta 9a, 6500 Bellinzona;
• Geneva 1: offices of the Permanent Mission of Romania, Rue de Vermont 37-39, 1202 Geneva;
• Geneva 2: headquarters of the Permanent Mission of Romania, Chemin de la Perrière 6, 1223 Cologny;
• Lausanne: IBIS Lausanne Crissier, Chem. de l'Esparcette 4, 1023 Lausanne (!! new location !!);
• Zurich 1: Holiday Inn Zürich Messe, Wallisellenstrasse 48, 8050 Zurich (!! new location !!);
• Zurich 2: Hilton Garden Inn Zürich Limmattal, Kreuzäckerstrasse 5, 8957 Spreitenbach.

Abroad, the elections for the Senate and Chamber of Deputies will take place over two days, as follows:

• November 30, 2024, from 07:00 to 21:00 (local time)
• December 1, 2024, from 07:00 to 21:00 (local time)

On both days, voting hours may be extended until 23:59 if there are voters still waiting in line at 21:00.

Who can vote at the polling stations in Switzerland?

Any Romanian citizen who has their domicile or residence in Switzerland or another country, is at least 18 years old by election day, and whose voting rights have not been revoked by a final court decision can vote at polling stations organized in Switzerland.

What documents do you need to vote?

Romanian citizens residing abroad who wish to vote in the elections for the Romanian Parliament must present one of the following valid Romanian identity documents:

• simple passport, indicating country of domicile;
• temporary simple passport, indicating country of domicile;
• electronic simple passport, indicating country of domicile.

Voters residing abroad vote based on a valid Romanian identity document:

• identity card;
• electronic identity card;
• temporary identity card;
• identity bulletin;
• simple passport;
• electronic simple passport; or
• temporary simple passport.

accompanied by an official document issued by Swiss authorities proving the legal right of residence in Switzerland for a period exceeding 90 days:

• Swiss passport or identity card (for those with dual citizenship);
• residence permit issued by migration authorities (L, B, C) or;
• certificate issued by the municipality of residence.

ATTENTION! Ensure your identity documents are valid on election day!

Where will the polling stations be organized?

• Bern: Romanian Orthodox Parish St. M. Mc. Gheorghe, Kastellweg 7, 3004 Bern;
• Basel: memox.world | Basel City, Elisabethenstrasse 15, 4051 Basel (!! new location !!);
• Bellinzona: Associazione e Spazio Aperto, Via Gerretta 9a, 6500 Bellinzona;
• Geneva 1: offices of the Permanent Mission of Romania, Rue de Vermont 37-39, 1202 Geneva;
• Geneva 2: headquarters of the Permanent Mission of Romania, Chemin de la Perrière 6, 1223 Cologny;
• Lausanne: IBIS Lausanne Crissier, Chem. de l'Esparcette 4, 1023 Lausanne (!! new location !!);
• Zurich 1: Holiday Inn Zürich Messe, Wallisellenstrasse 48, 8050 Zurich (!! new location !!);
• Zurich 2: Hilton Garden Inn Zürich Limmattal, Kreuzäckerstrasse 5, 8957 Spreitenbach.

In the context of the current pandemic, the Swiss authorities maintain the decision to suspend the provisions of the Schengen agreement and introduce controls at all borders. Thus, the Swiss Border Police will only allow entry into Switzerland for the following categories:

1. Swiss citizens;

2. persons holding a valid residence permit in Switzerland (type B, C, L) or a type G permit for cross-border commuters;

3. EU or EEA citizens who are members of the small family (spouse, children) of a Swiss citizen for the purpose of family reunification;

4. persons (including seasonal workers) who concluded an employment contract with a Swiss employer before 25 March 2020 and have been approved to carry out gainful employment in the CH but who have so far been refused entering the territory of CH;

5. persons who can prove that, on arrival in Switzerland, they will be issued with a residence permit;

6. seasonal workers, other than those set out in points 4 and 5, and who, in previous years, had concluded at least two employment contracts with the same employer.

7. EU and EEA citizens traveling to Switzerland for business purposes;

8. persons holding a Schengen visa (type "C") - granted to health professionals or for an urgent official visit - which was issued after 25 March 2020;

9. persons holding a national visa (type "D") issued for the purpose of employment or family reunification;

10. persons in a situation of absolute urgency.

Validity of identity and travel documents:

According to the instructions issued by the State Secretariat for Migration - SEM, foreign nationals of the Swiss Confederation are allowed to leave the territory of the Swiss state at any time for the purpose of repatriation with an expired passport or identity card (individual tourist or commercial trips are not allowed).

During the pandemic, foreign nationals are also allowed to return to Switzerland with an expired passport or identity card, provided they hold a valid Swiss residence permit, type "B" or "C", issued by the office of migration of the canton where they reside.

These instructions are valid only during the restrictions imposed in the context of COVID-19.

Other measures in force in the context of COVID-19:

- Swiss rail transport will not cross the Swiss national border.

- Air transport from states or regions at risk may be suspended depending on the evolution of the pandemic.

Internal situation:

Meetings in public and private spaces, including spontaneous meetings, of more than five people are prohibited.

It is recommended to limit social contacts and the use of public transport, as well as strict compliance with known hygiene rules.

Starting with May 11, commercial shops, restaurants, museums, libraries, recreation and sports centers were reopened (theaters, cinemas, concert halls remain closed).

Pharmacies, gas stations, railway stations and bus stations, bank branches, post offices, hotel units, as well as beauty and hairdressing salons are open. The company's buffets / canteens, as well as the catering companies that deliver food at home, can also operate.

Hospitals, clinics or medical offices work with normal hours.

Taxi services, troubleshooting and repair services also work, and online food retailers can make deliveries 7 days / week.

Also, the Swiss federal executive recommends that the elderly (age group mainly exposed to COVID - 19) to restrict their travel.

Compulsory education units have been reopened. Universities, vocational and post-secondary schools remain closed.

Sites in Switzerland that contain information about travel conditions in and from Switzerland:

https://www.dfae.admin.ch/eda/de/home/das-eda/aktuell/newsuebersicht/2020/01/corona-virus.html

https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/fr/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov.html

In addition, Romanian citizens can receive information from the Swiss authorities by accessing the permanent telephone line (24 hours a day) +41 58 463 0000, where information is provided in English, German, French and Italian. People who show symptoms of illness (shortness of breath, cough, high temperature) and need medical advice are asked to access the following telephone number: +41 58 464 44 88. 

Contacting the Romanian authorities

Romanian citizens can request consular assistance at the telephone numbers of the Romanian Embassy in Bern: +41 (0) 31 351 3639 or +41 (0) 31 351 0546 the calls being redirected to the Contact and Support Center of Romanian Citizens Abroad (CCSCRS) and taken over by Call Center operators on a permanent basis.

It is also recommended to notify the Romanian Embassy in the Swiss Confederation, which may provide consular assistance under the conditions provided by law. Romanian citizens who are facing a difficult, special, emergency situation also have at their disposal the emergency telephone number of the Romanian diplomatic mission in Bern: +41 (0) 76 387 5005.

For more information, please visit the website of the Romanian Embassy in Bern: http://berna.mae.ro/local-news/2020

During the day of March 16, 2020, the Federal Council decreed "the state of necessity" on the whole of the Swiss territory and adopted an emergency ordinance, with effect on March 17, 2020, at 00h00, which contains a series of legislative measures to combat / limit the effects of the transmission of the new Coronavirus (COVID-19). The normative act is in force until April 19, with the possibility of extension, depending on the evolution of the situation.

For more information on seat measures, travel tips and useful links, please consult the website of the Romanian Embassy in Bern, which is updated regularly.
 

Internet sites in Switzerland:
 

https://www.dfae.admin.ch/eda/de/home/das-eda/aktuell/newsuebersicht/2020/01/corona-virus.html
 

https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/fr/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov.html
 

In addition, Romanian citizens can receive information from the Swiss authorities by accessing the permanent hotline (24 hours) +41 58 463 0000 where information is provided in English, German, French or Italian.
 

Internet sites in Romania:
 

http://www.mae.ro/node/51759
 

https://www.cnscbt.ro/index.php/1440-lista-zonelor-cu-transmitere-comunitara-extinsa-si-a-altor-zone-afectate-de-covid
 

http://www.dsu.mai.gov.ro/
 

Contact the Romanian authorities:
 

Romanian citizens can request consular assistance from the telephone numbers of the Romanian Embassy in Bern: +41 (0) 31 351 3639 or +41 (0) 31 351 0546 with calls being redirected to the contact and support center to Romanian citizens from abroad (CCSCRS) and permanently taken up by Call Center operators.
It is also recommended to notify the Romanian Embassy in the Swiss Confederation, which can provide consular assistance under the conditions provided by law. Romanian citizens facing a difficult and special emergency situation also have the emergency telephone number of the Romanian diplomatic mission in Bern: +41 (0) 76 387 5005.
 

The number of Romanians and Bulgarians coming to Switzerland will no longer be restricted from 1 June 2019.

Romanians and Bulgarians will thus benefit from the beginning of June of the same rights as nationals of other Member States of the European Union. Specifically, they must find a job to stay in Switzerland or have sufficient means if they come as non-active. 

On May 26, 2019, there will be elections for the members of Romania in the European Parliament and the national referendum convened by the President of Romania.

Four voting offices are organized in Switzerland:

• Bern: The Embassy of Romania in the Swiss Confederation, Kirchenfeldstrasse 78, 3005 Bern
• Geneva: Chemin de la Perriere nr. 6, 1223 Cologne, Geneva
• Zurich: Swiss Star Businesscenter, Grubenstrasse .5, 8620 Wezikon, Zurich
• Basel: Stellwerk Basel / Vogesenplatz 1, 4056 Basel
  

For more information, see the Voter's Guide:
 http://www.mae.ro/sites/default/files/file/anul_2019/2019_pdf/2019.04.19_ghid_alegator.pdf

The magazine ph+arts, Swiss magazine of arts, published an article on the contemporary art exhibition "Romania - 100 years together" held at WIPO, Geneva, from 26 November to 7 December 2018.

http://www.pharts.ch/index.php/arts-plastiques/49-pharts-137/581-ompi 

The Honorary Consulate of Romania in Geneva supports RePatriot's initiative "Invest in Romania": 

RePatriot organizes the second edition of the Business Summit 'INVEST IN ROMANIA' from the 4th to the 8th of October 2017 in Romania, an event dedicated to the collaboration of local Romanian entrepreneurs with entrepreneurs from diaspora, in order to launch new ideas, partnerships and solutions for the development of the country. The main topics of this edition are: high-tech, tourism and services, agribusiness, infrastructure and real estate. More details on their website www.repatriot.ro

You can now register to the event on the following page: http://repatriot.ro/vreau-sa-particip-la-summit-repatriot-2017/ 

 Transitional restrictions on the free movement rights of Bulgarian and Romanian workers in Switzerland will be lift as of June 1st 2016. 

For more information, visit the following page: http://www.ejpd.admin.ch/ejpd/fr/home/aktuell/news/2016/2016-04-130.html 

As of 1st April 2016, registration to the Electoral Register is open both for those wishing to express their vote by mail as for those who wish to vote in the voting offices. For more information, check the following address: http://berna.mae.ro/local-news/1638 

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania publishes monthly InfoBulletin, an electronic newsletter presenting Romanian business opportunities for foreign companies. 

We invite you to consult the publication nr. 73/2016 at the following link:

http://ccir.ro/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/iBno73_2016.pdf

Dr Guido Gianasso, Honorary Consul of Romania, wishes you a wonderful spring!

You will find below a page dedicated to the wonderful tradition Martisor, explained by the Romanian Department (Unité de Roumain) of the University of Geneva:

http://www.unige.ch/lettres/roman/roumain/actualites/martisor-le-1er-mars/

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania publishes monthly InfoBulletin, an electronic newsletter presenting Romanian business opportunities for foreign companies. 

We invite you to consult the publication nr. 67/September 2015 at the following link:

http://ccir.ro/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/iBno67_2015.pdf