Agreement between the Swiss Federal Council, the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Government of the French Republic on Cross-Border Cooperation in the Upper Rhine Area

1. The parties establish a Government Commission for the Upper Rhine to promote cross-border cooperation (hereinafter referred to as "Commission").

2. This agreement does not affect the operation of bodies that are formed or yet to be formed based on international agreements.

3. This agreement does not affect the nature and extent of the powers of the regional authorities in cross-border cooperation, as established in the respective domestic laws of the parties.

1. This Agreement concerns the cross-border cooperation in the following border areas on the Upper Rhine

- the cantons of Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Aargau, Jura, and Solothurn;

- the Land of Baden-Württemberg: in the areas of the regions of Mittlerer Oberrhein, Südlicher Oberrhein, and the districts of Lörrach and Waldshut;

- the Land of Rhineland-Palatinate: from the Rheinpfalz region, the area of Südpfalz with the districts of Südliche Weinstraße and Germersheim, as well as the independent city of Landau in der Pfalz, and from the Westpfalz region, the collective municipality of Dahner Felsenland;

- the Alsace region.

1. For the fulfillment of its duties, the Commission relies on a regional commission called the "Upper Rhine Conference."

2. The Upper Rhine Conference shall adopt its own rules of procedure.

1. The Commission primarily addresses those issues of cross-border cooperation which cannot be resolved by the Upper Rhine Conference.

2. The Commission drafts recommendations for the parties and, if necessary, prepares drafts of agreements.

3. Within the framework of the application of the Karlsruhe Agreement, the Commission may recommend solutions to the governments of the parties as needed, including, if necessary, revisions of the treaty text.

1. The commission consists of three delegations, whose members are appointed by the government of each party.

2. Each delegation comprises a maximum of eight members, some of whom are simultaneously members of the Upper Rhine Conference.

3. Each delegation can call upon experts.

1. The Commission shall generally convene annually in the territory of one of the three parties. The Commission endeavors to coordinate its meeting dates with those of the Upper Rhine Conference.

2. The Commission may establish working groups.

3. The working languages of the Commission are German and French.

4. The Commission shall adopt its own rules of procedure.

1. The Commission shall be kept continuously informed about the work and resolutions of the Upper Rhine Conference.

2. The Commission may instruct the Upper Rhine Conference to submit proposals to it and to present drafts of agreements.

1. Each party shall notify the other parties of the fulfillment of its domestic requirements necessary for the entry into force of this agreement.

2. This agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the second month following the day on which the last party has notified the other parties of the fulfillment of its domestic requirements necessary for the entry into force of this agreement.

1. This Agreement is entered into for an indefinite period. However, it may be terminated by any party with a notice period of at least six months to the end of a calendar year, given in writing to the other parties.

1. This Agreement supersedes the Agreement of October 22, 1975, between the Governments of the Swiss Confederation, the Federal Republic of Germany, and the French Republic regarding the establishment of a commission to examine and resolve neighboring issues.