Reservations

Articles: 7,17,24,25

(Translation)
Re Articles 3 and 16 1. "In accordance with Article 29, paragraph 1, Switzerland designates the cantonal authorities listed [see "Authorities"] as Central Authorities within the meaning of Articles 3 and 16 of the Convention. Applications from abroad for legal aid or for rendering enforceable an order for the payment of costs and expenses may also be addressed to the Federal Justice and Police Department in Bern, which will forward them to the appropriate Central Authority.
In so far as such legal aid or the rendering enforceable of an order for the payment of costs and expenses relates to proceedings, which by virtue of the rules governing internal competence of the internal sequence of proceedings must be heard before the federal authorities, the Federal Justice and Police Department will forward the applications concerned to the appropriate federal authorities. If such applications are submitted to the cantonal authorities, the latter will automatically forward them to the Federal Justice and Police Department.

Re Articles 4 and 16
2. In accordance with Article 29, paragraph 1, Switzerland declares that the authorities designated by virtue of Article 3 will also be responsible for performing the tasks of the transmitting authorities referred to in Article 4, paragraph 1, and Article 16, paragraph 1.

Re Articles 5 and 9
3. In accordance with Article 29, paragraph 2, Switzerland declares with regard to Articles 5 and 9 that the receiving Central Authority in Switzerland will also accept applications forwarded to it directly by post or through a diplomatic or consular mission.

Re Articles 7(2), 24 and 25
4. In accordance with Articles 28 and 29, Switzerland declares with regard to Articles 7, 24 and 25 that applications for legal aid and any accompanying documents must be drawn up in the language of the requested authority, that is in German, French or Italian, or accompanied by a translation into one of these languages, depending on the part of Switzerland in which the application is to be implemented. Documents drawn up in a language other than that of the requested authority or accompanied by a translation in a different language may be refused even if translation into the language of the requested authority is difficult in the requesting State.

Re Articles 17(1), 24 and 25
5. In accordance with Article 29, Switzerland declares with regard to Articles 17(1), 24 and 25 that an application for rendering enforceable an order for payment of costs and expenses and any accompanying documents must be drawn up in the language of the requested authority, that is in German, French or Italian, or accompanied by a translation into one of these languages, depending on the part of Switzerland in which the application is to be implemented.