Levels of Cooperation (RBJR-RFB)

1. A collaboration between the BJR and the RFB is possible on the following five levels

a) between the general secretariats,

b) between the presidents,

c) **\* between the council offices,

d) **\* between the commissions or delegations,

e) **\* between the plenaries.

1. The Secretary-Generals or their Deputies, as well as their staff, coordinate and meet regularly to assess the situational development of joint dossiers; they ensure a good exchange of information between the two councils while respecting the respective competencies.

2. They inform their respective Presidents and their respective offices about ongoing matters and make proposals for the respective plenary sessions as well as for the general assemblies of both councils.

3. They jointly prepare the dossiers that will be dealt with in the general assemblies or are the subject of joint action by the two councils.

The Presidents of the two Councils meet regularly to review the joint business.

They meet to prepare the agendas of the plenary sessions and to initiate the necessary steps.

1. The offices of the BJR and the RFB can be convened for joint meetings by decision of the presidents or the offices, particularly to prepare for the general assemblies.

2. The joint meetings of the offices are alternately chaired by the president of the BJR or the RFB.

1. The Education Commission of the BJR and the Education, Health, and Social Affairs Commission of the RFB shall convene joint meetings as needed to examine and prepare matters within the jurisdiction of the Directorate of Education and Culture of the Canton of Bern.

2. The joint meetings are convened by the chairpersons of both commissions.

3. The President of the FRAKO is invited to participate in the joint meetings of both commissions with a delegation from the FRAKO if the dossiers require it.

4. The chairpersons of both commissions alternate in leading the joint meetings.

5. The FRAKO may request a joint meeting of both commissions.

1. The Cultural Commission of the BJR and the Cultural Commission of the RFB shall meet jointly as needed to review and prepare joint dossiers, particularly cultural policy dossiers, within the jurisdiction of the Office of Culture of the Directorate of Education and Culture of the Canton of Bern.

2. The joint meetings are convened by the chairpersons of both Cultural Commissions.

3. The delegate for French or bilingual affairs of the Office of Culture of the Canton of Bern is invited, along with a delegation from the Office of Culture or the president of the FRAKO, to participate in the joint meetings of the two Cultural Commissions if the dossiers require it.

4. The meetings are chaired alternately by the chairpersons of the two Cultural Commissions.

5. The delegate for French or bilingual affairs of the Office of Culture may request a joint meeting of the two Cultural Commissions.

The other standing committees of both councils may invite a delegation from the other council to participate in their meetings when the dossiers under consideration concern both the Bernese Jura and the administrative district of Biel/Bienne.

1. Ad Hoc Commissions of the Two Councils

Ad hoc commissions of the two councils may invite a delegation from the other council to participate in their meetings if the matters under discussion pertain to both the Bernese Jura and the administrative district of Biel/Bienne.

1. The BJR and the RFB shall convene, as needed, at least once a year and upon the invitation of their presidents, for plenary assemblies.

2. A convocation is also possible

a. at the request of a cantonal directorate or the state chancellery,

b. at the request of at least five members from each of the two councils.

3. The invitation is issued at least ten days before the assembly date and includes both the agenda and the necessary documents.

4. The notice period may be shorter in urgent cases, particularly for extraordinary plenary assemblies.

5. The plenary assemblies are alternately chaired by the president of the BJR and the RFB.

6. The costs incurred during joint sessions are appropriately allocated to the budgets of both institutions.

1. Meetings and plenary sessions according to Articles 4 to 9 are held privately, unless the respective bodies decide otherwise.

2. In principle, both Secretaries-General participate in the various meetings and plenary sessions with an advisory capacity.

1. The minutes of the plenary assemblies shall be delivered to the members of both councils.

2. The minutes of the joint meetings pursuant to Articles 4 to 8 shall be delivered to the participants as well as to the presidents of the BJR and the RFB; the latter shall decide whether it is appropriate to send these documents to all members of their respective councils.

3. The presidents and the general secretariats of the BJR and the RFB shall inform each other of the resolutions adopted by their respective councils in separate meetings.

4. FRAKO or its president shall receive the relevant minutes or extracts from the meetings attended by one or more FRAKO members.

1. The Presidents of the BJR and the RFB jointly inform the public about the results of the deliberations in the full assemblies.

2. The chairpersons of the bodies mentioned in Articles 4 to 8 are authorized to directly inform the public about the deliberations in the joint sessions, provided they have previously obtained the consent of both offices.

1. Members of the BJR and the RFB who participate in joint meetings or general assemblies pursuant to Articles 4 to 9 are entitled to the attendance fees and travel allowances specified in the respective bylaws of both councils.

1. The Powers Subject to Cooperation Between the BJR and the RFB Concern the Following Four Areas

a) Joint Resolutions,

b) Consultations of One Council by the Other Council,

c) Political Participation in Joint Matters,

d) Other Jurisdictional Areas.

1. The BJR and the RFB pursue one or more joint objectives each year in the course of exercising the powers mentioned in Article 14.

1. The commissions representing the BJR and the RFB in matters concerning school coordination with Western Switzerland and the Canton of Jura shall be appointed based on a proposal developed at a joint meeting of the BJR's Education Commission and the RFB's Commission for Education, Health, and Social Affairs by both councils either in a joint assembly or in separate plenary sessions.

2. The dossiers related to school coordination with Western Switzerland and the Canton of Jura are to be prepared by the FRAKO in collaboration with the BJR's Education Commission and the RFB's Commission for Education, Health, and Social Affairs.

3. Decisions related to school coordination with Western Switzerland and the Canton of Jura fall within the jurisdiction of the assemblies; these powers can be delegated to other bodies of the councils. The relevant details are defined in Article 45 paragraph 2 of the SStG.

4. If circumstances require, a joint assembly may be waived for a school coordination-related decision. The decision requires a majority from both councils.

1. The BJR and the RFB agree on the details of the RFB's consultation

a) in the development of the general cultural policy concept of the BJR;

b) in the granting of cantonal cultural promotion contributions and contributions from the lottery and sports funds that fall within the jurisdiction of the BJR, if the matter also concerns the French-speaking population of the Biel/Bienne administrative district.

2. They specifically aim to promote regional cultural life by supporting cultural projects and cultural creators from the Biel/Bienne administrative district and the Bernese Jura with cross-subsidies.

3. The cooperation between the RFB and BJR in the cultural sector is carried out primarily through the BJR cultural representative, who collaborates with the RFB as the representative for French-speaking or bilingual affairs of the Office for Culture.

1. The following matters of political participation concern both councils jointly

a * the matters mentioned in Article 31, paragraph 1, letters a to g of the SStG, insofar as they particularly affect the French-speaking population of the administrative district of Biel/Bienne;

b * the appointment decisions designated in Article 31, paragraph 1, letter h of the SStG.

2. The two council offices shall agree on whether political participation pursuant to paragraph 1 shall be exercised jointly or separately.

3. If the exercise of political participation is carried out jointly, approval of the matters requires a majority in both councils. If a double majority is not achieved, the two councils shall exercise political participation separately once again.

1. The RFB may request to be consulted by the BJR when it concerns areas of its political participation that are not specified in Article 18; this particularly pertains to the granting of cantonal cultural promotion contributions for projects that take place within the Biel/Bienne administrative district and have a connection to the Bernese Jura.

2. The BJR shall regularly inform the RFB within the scope of its regional and cross-border political authority and shall consult it in advance in cases where the French-speaking minority of the Biel/Bienne administrative district is also affected.

1. The BJR and the RFB regularly exchange information with each other regarding their respective areas of responsibility.

2. The exchange of information takes place at the level of the secretariats, the presidents, and the council offices.

3. The presidents jointly decide whether the received information should be forwarded to all members of their respective councils.

1. This regulation shall enter into force on April 1, 2007.