Switzerland becomes a Member of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

Berlin, 27 May 2009

Today, Switzerland signed IRENA’s founding treaty (Statute) in Berlin
Mr. Moritz Leuenberger, Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of
the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications, signed the Statute at the
German Foreign Office in the presence of Mr. Sigmar Gabriel, Federal Minister for
Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety and Mr. Heinrich Tiemann,
Secretary of State at the Federal Foreign Office.
Switzerland has thereby become IRENA’s 83rd Signatory State and is now a Member
of the Preparatory Commission. At the second session in June 2009, in Sharm El-
Sheikh, Egypt, the Preparatory Commission will designate the Agency’s interim
headquarters and the Interim Director-General. Moreover, decisions are envisaged
regarding the work programme, financial and staff regulations, and the budget.
About IRENA
IRENA is the first international organisation to focus exclusively on renewable
energy. The goal of IRENA is to support a rapid transition towards the widespread
and sustainable use of renewable energy worldwide. Acting as the global voice for all
forms of renewable energy, IRENA provides practical advice and support for both
industrialised and developing countries.
The Statute of IRENA was signed by 75 States at the Founding Conference in Bonn,
Germany, on 26 January 2009. Since then, the Statute has been open for further
signatures. The German Federal Foreign Office has acted as the depositary of the
Statute.
For more detailed information, visit www.irena.org