Agreement between the Cantons of Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft on the Cooperation of Authorities

1. The government councils of the two cantons regularly meet for joint sessions.

2. The chair is held by the president of the government of the respective hosting canton.

1. They develop the objectives of the cooperation between the two cantons, keep informed about ongoing legal revisions and planning projects, and advise on all matters of mutual interest.

1. They do not form a joint authority and do not make joint decisions. Proposals addressed to both parliaments concerning partnership matters originate from the executive councils of the two cantons.

1. They apply the standards for cost sharing between Basel-Landschaft and Basel-Stadt (BL/BS Standards) as decided by the executive councils of both cantons to partnership ventures.

1. The Government Council informs the parliament of its canton about its intention to conclude an important state treaty as soon as it has adopted a negotiation mandate.

1. The executive councils of the two cantons are authorized to establish working groups composed of their members, representatives from cantonal and municipal administrations, and external experts for the joint handling of specific issues. These working groups report to the executive councils of both cantons.

1. The offices of the Grand Council and the Cantonal Council inform each other about the agendas of the two parliaments as well as new parliamentary motions that pertain to matters of mutual interest.

1. The bureau offices and the committees of both parliaments are authorized to hold joint meetings regularly or as needed.

**1. A matter is treated in partnership,**

a) if by its nature it requires the collaboration of both parliaments, such as the approval of treaties, decisions regarding joint institutions, or reports on identical parliamentary initiatives transferred to both parliaments;

b) if the two parliaments – at the request of the governmental councils or on their own initiative – decide to treat a matter in partnership.

**2. The following provisions apply to the consultation on matters treated in partnership:**

a) The offices of the councils coordinate the handling of the matter in both parliaments and align them in terms of timing.

b) For the preliminary consultation on matters treated in partnership, both parliaments designate preparatory committees (hereinafter referred to as committees).

c) The presidencies of the committees coordinate their approaches with each other as soon as a partnership proposal is assigned and inform each other about decisions taken by the committees.

d) The committees of both parliaments generally meet at least once jointly for each matter.

e) The committees may invite members of both governmental councils to their joint meetings and request supplementary reports from both governmental councils.

f) The committees submit their reports to their respective parliaments in a coordinated manner but – except for the interparliamentary business audit committees – separately and make proposals.

g) The two parliaments consult on partnership proposals separately and make their final decision independently, subject to a referendum.

1. In the preparatory committees, partnership proposals are discussed twice when a committee of the Cantonal Council creates a material difference with a previous proposal from a committee of the Grand Council or when a committee of the Grand Council creates a material difference with a previous proposal from a committee of the Cantonal Council.

2. If the proposals of the committees regarding a partnership matter differ, the presidencies of the lead committees, the presidencies of all involved committees, delegations from all involved committees, or all involved committees convene with the objective of drafting a uniform proposal to the parliaments.

1. In the parliaments, partnership proposals are deliberated twice if the Cantonal Council creates a substantive difference with a previous decision of the Grand Council or if the Grand Council creates a substantive difference with a previous decision of the Cantonal Council.

2. If the decisions of the parliaments on a partnership matter differ from one another, the presidencies of the lead committees, the presidencies of all involved committees, delegations of all involved committees, or all involved committees convene with the aim of developing a proposal for agreement.

3. The involved committees report to their parliaments on the outcome of the conciliation negotiations and submit a motion.

1. Resolutions regarding partnership-related matters are considered concluded once they have been substantively approved by both Parliaments.

2. If there is no substantively consistent proposal from the preliminary advisory committees or a substantively consistent resolution from the Parliaments concerning a matter designated as partnership-related according to § 9 para. 1 lit. b, further consideration under this agreement shall cease upon resolution by one of the Parliaments.

1. In treaties concerning institutions with inter-cantonal sponsorships, the formation of inter-parliamentary audit committees to ensure parliamentary oversight should be provided for.

2. The offices of the Cantonal and the Grand Council are to develop recommendations for the tasks and procedures of the inter-parliamentary audit committees.

1. Votes on partnership-related proposals must be conducted simultaneously in both cantons.

1. Each canton is entitled to terminate this agreement with one year's notice at the end of a calendar year.

1. This Agreement requires the approval of the Grand Council and the Cantonal Council.

1. This agreement shall be submitted to the Confederation for information in accordance with Article 48 paragraph 3 sentence 2 of the Federal Constitution upon becoming legally binding.

1. This Agreement is to be published. It shall become effective on January 1, 2012, upon the commencement of its legal force. Simultaneously, the Agreement between the Cantons of Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft concerning the Cooperation of Authorities dated February 22/17, 1977, shall be repealed.