Principle

1. Expenses concerning the entire government council shall be charged to the "General Council Costs" credit (Council Credit).

2. There is no legal entitlement to benefits from the Council Credit.

1. The Council Credit is particularly charged with

a) Visits and receptions by authorities, organizations, and private individuals,

b) Participation in conferences and events of federal, cantonal, or other public or private organizations,

c) Extraordinary events or occasions such as celebrations for a President of the Federal Assemblies or state funerals, and

d) Recurring events of the Government Council such as the New Year's reception or the reception of military unit commanders.

1. The council credit is particularly charged with

a Contributions to third parties for receptions, jubilee events, aperitifs, etc.,

b Contributions to institutions,

c Deficit coverage guarantees for events.

d **\*** ...

1. The Council's Credit is specifically charged with

a * the following services resolved by the Grand Council: personal representation allowances and first-class general subscriptions for members of the government, the State Chancellor, or the State Chancellery,

b Legislative trips and working meetings of the Government Council,

c Expenses for activities of governmental delegations that involve special effort, and

d Expenses for special occasions (meals, farewell gifts).

On the Utilization of the Council Credit, the Decision is Made by the Government Council upon Proposal of the State Chancellery.

For expenditures where there is a clear practice of the Government Council, the President of the Government, the Secretary of State, or the Undersecretary of State may decide.

1. The granted credit is determined for an occasion in the individual case according to

a) its significance,

b) the cantonal interest,

c) the territorial principle,

d) financial feasibility,

e) an appropriate venue and participant circle, and

f) the principle of equal treatment under the law.

2. The services are generally directed by the available funds in the account "General Council Costs." Exceedances of the account arising from unforeseeable and unavoidable occasions can be covered by supplementary credit.

1. The honor consists of a reception in the name of the government by individual members, a delegation of the government council, or the entire government council.

1. Honors are generally conferred upon a detailed request. The request must specifically indicate the location and time of the last occurrence of the event in the Canton of Bern.

2. The honor is usually accompanied by a ceremonial drink or snack, and exceptionally by a banquet.

3. For receptions, visits, or extraordinary events of the government council, additional costs may also be covered.

1. At receptions in Bern, the canton and the municipal community of Bern generally act jointly as hosts. Exceptionally, the Confederation and the civic community of Bern also participate.

2. At receptions in the rest of the canton, it should be aimed for the local community of the venue to contribute reasonably to the costs, similar to paragraph 1.

A contribution may be granted or a limited deficit coverage guarantee provided towards the costs of an event in accordance with Articles 13-22.

For honorary gifts, prizes, commemorative or other gifts, a subsidy or full funding can be approved.

1. Benefits under Article 10 Paragraph 1 are provided only upon submission of a detailed application. This application must, in particular, include a financial plan which outlines, on the revenue side, fixed or anticipated contributions from private or public sponsors, as well as grants and guarantees from third parties.

2. Benefits under Article 10 Paragraph 1 generally require broad-based financing and an appropriate level of self-contribution from the organizers or participants.

1. Upon request by the State Chancellery, an applicant is obliged to provide information regarding the use of the services and submit the necessary documents.

1. The council credit may be utilized for

a) the reception of foreign government delegations and groups, and

b) scientific, cultural, or economic congresses and conferences.

2. Insofar as an event serves the purpose of promoting or advertising tourism, contributions from corresponding funds, such as the hospitality industry fund, are reserved.

**Article Title (if numbered, include number):**

When international congresses and conferences are organized in Bern by federal authorities or held under their patronage, the canton covers one-quarter of the costs, provided that the Municipality of Bern also covers one-quarter and the Confederation covers half of the costs. In other cases, the three hosting authorities each bear one-third of the costs. In special cases, the Governing Council may decide on exceptions to these rules.

1. The support is limited to traditional, large, or one-time celebrations of a historical, cultural, or sporting nature. The event must be of national or inter-cantonal significance.

2. Contributions may be provided

a) in the form of traditional honorary gifts and

b) as contributions to the participating parties, the Confederation, or participating cantonal organizations.

1. Events organized by political parties and organizations shall not be supported through financial contributions.

2. Regular general, delegate, and annual meetings, as well as other annually recurring private events, shall not receive financial support.

1. Exceptions to Article 16 Paragraph 2 may be made for events of at least regional significance in the following cases

a) in the case of significant international participation,

b) at anniversaries of associations and institutions (25 years or multiples thereof),

c) in the presence of a government representative at the event, or

d) for particularly large events or events of particular importance to the canton, for which participation by the canton and possibly the municipality seems appropriate.

Student and Youth Meetings at least at the Cantonal Level

Student and youth meetings on at least a cantonal level can be considered if the choice of topics and organization are expected to contribute to the discussion of issues currently relevant to the Canton of Bern.

The support is usually provided in the form of a financial contribution.

1. In cases of special significance for the Canton of Bern, the Executive Council may provide a contribution to conferences or visits by parliamentary groups from abroad, the Confederation, or another canton.

1. At conferences of the cantonal specialist directors and state secretaries, the government council customarily offers participants a meal, including beverages, when the meeting venue is located in the Canton of Bern, in accordance with inter-cantonal practice.

2. The remaining costs, particularly those related to the organization and execution, as well as any associated events of the occasion, shall be charged to the representation budget of the interested cantonal specialist directorate.

1. Contributions may be granted for workshops and meetings involving representatives of the government council with district authorities.

1. If a department is scheduled to organize a conference for officials on a nationwide, inter-cantonal, or cantonal level, the costs borne by the state are generally charged to the department's representation budget.

2. An allocation from the council's credit can be granted if the following cumulative conditions are met

a) The conference serves as a working meeting for professional development or discussion of technical issues important to the canton;

b) The number of participants is proportionate to the subject matter of the conference; usually, no more than three civil servants from each canton should participate, and

c) The canton of Bern has not been the conference venue for several years: for nationwide conferences for 15 years, and for inter-cantonal conferences according to the number of cantons involved.

3. As benefits, a toast, an aperitif, a coffee, or a snack can be offered in the name of the government council, but not a banquet. Other financial contributions must not be used for social events, entertainment programs, or excursions.

If all or several cantons are requested to provide a joint contribution to a member state, the government council determines the subject and scope pursuant to the old Swiss cantonal custom. The government council may endow honorary gifts or prizes for cantonal or regional events or for special historical anniversaries in municipalities.

1. The Executive Council issues guidelines on the use of credits by the directors.

1. Upon the entry into force of this regulation, all conflicting decrees of the Governing Council and other provisions are repealed, in particular

a) RRB 686 of February 2, 1954, concerning international receptions, cost distribution,

b) RRB 5968 of August 23, 1968, concerning instructions for honors and state contributions to congresses and events,

c) RRB 9306 of December 29, 1970, concerning announcement regarding Governing Council meetings, occasions, gifts,

d) RRB 1268 of March 29, 1972, concerning contributions to events.

**The Regulation comes into effect on December 1, 1987.**

Applications already submitted and still pending at this time will be assessed according to this Regulation, unless the Government Council decides otherwise.