On May 3rd, the Institute of Federalism welcomed Mr Leendert Verbeek, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Council of Europe, and his delegation.

The Delegation was in Switzerland from 30 April to 3 May 2022. The aim of the visit by Congress President Leendert Verbeek was to present Swiss federalism in situ to the Strasbourg institution. The visit by Mr Verbeek (Netherlands) aimed to show the Congress various aspects of Swiss democracy on the ground at local and regional level. The visit is being organised by the FDFA in close consultation with the Canton of Jura, whose president, David Eray, is also head of the Swiss delegation to the Congress.   

The delegation visited the Institute of Federalism in Fribourg to learn about ongoing research like our LoGov programme and the Greater Fribourg communal merger project. Mr Matthieu Loup (legal Adviser, Sarine Prefecture) and Dr Didier Castella, State Counsellor of Fribourg, Director of the Institutions joined to present the merging project of Grand Fribourg.