A joint working group conducted exploratory talks in the preceding months, and they were to be the driving factor for the negotiations initiated by the two diplomats. The dawn of 2011 would also be the dawn of these negotiations. The Federal Council in conjunction with parliamentary committees and affiliated parties is to approve the negotiating mandate.
Both parties in the Switzerland Germany double tax treaty aimed at achieving a fair long-term solution which would seek to play down the competition on tax issues and one that is in line with both interests. The treaty opened up to Germans being able to own and operate a bank
account in Switzerland freely. Bank client privacy was also a topic for discussion, and it was to be respected. What's more, their investment decisions should not be influenced by a probable tax evasion risk. Justified tax claims would also be implemented in the Switzerland Germany double tax treaty.