Decree Concerning the Accession of the Republic and Canton of Jura to the Convention on the Interparliamentary Conference of Northwestern Switzerland

The Republic and Canton of Jura adheres to the convention of June 14, 2022, on the Interparliamentary Conference of Northwestern Switzerland.

**1. The Interparliamentary Conference of Northwestern Switzerland (ICNS)**

The purpose of the Interparliamentary Conference of Northwestern Switzerland (ICNS) is to facilitate the exchange of information among the cantonal parliaments of Northwestern Switzerland and to monitor and discuss matters of regional relevance. For this purpose, thematic meetings are organized.

The ICNS may publicly express opinions on current issues and issue statements, particularly to the cantonal parliaments of Northwestern Switzerland, the cantonal governments of Northwestern Switzerland, and the Conference of Governments of Northwestern Switzerland (CGNS).

This order comes into force on January 1, 2023.

The CINO is composed of the presidents, the first vice-presidents, and three permanent members from the six Cantonal Parliaments. The permanent members are elected by the respective Cantonal Parliaments.

The permanent members of CINO constitute the Working Committee.

The Working Committee is responsible for preparing the annual meeting and statements, among other things.

**The Presidents of the CINO**

The presidents of the CINO rotate every two years, on January 1st, in the following order: Solothurn, Basel-Landschaft, Aargau, Basel-City, Jura, Bern. The president of the CINO also chairs the Working Committee. The CINO conducts its election.

The CINO generally meets every year on the last Friday of October. The meeting is open to all members of the associated Cantonal Parliaments.

The Working Committee submits the statements to the CINO for its decision.

The CINO adopts the statements by a two-thirds majority, provided that at least two favorable votes are required per canton.

**Chancellery of State of the Canton of Basel-Country**

The Chancellery of State of the canton of Basel-Country, which is also responsible for the secretariat of the CGNO, is likewise in charge of the secretariat of the CINO. The secretariat must ensure the free flow of information between the CINO, other interparliamentary organizations, in particular the Inter-Cantonal Legislative Conference (CLI), and the CGNO.

Participating cantons shall pay the canton of Basel-Landschaft an annual lump sum for the secretariat expenses of the CINO and the CGNO.

The CGNO shall determine the amount each time, which shall be the same for all cantons.

Interventions and speeches during meetings are subject to simultaneous interpretation. Invitations to meetings and statements are drafted in both languages; other documents of an official nature may also be translated.

The CINO reimburses the organizing canton for the costs of simultaneous interpretation up to the annual contribution of a member canton.

The secretariat corresponds in the German language.

French-speaking members of the Conference may express themselves in French.

The present Convention comes into effect on the day following the entry into force of all approval decrees by the relevant Cantonal Parliaments.

It replaces the Convention of March 5, 2021.