Press releases

Strengthening economic ties is focus of talks by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis in Nepal and Bhutan

09.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis visited Nepal and Bhutan during his week-long trip to Asia from 7 to 9 July. The official talks with government representatives centred on bilateral relations and opportunities for deeper economic cooperation.

Les droits des femmes et la non-discrimination au cœur du travail de la Suisse pendant la 59e session du Conseil des droits de l’homme.

08.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
Dans un contexte global marqué par le recul de l’Etat de droit, la Suisse travaille avec détermination en faveur des droits de l’homme. Pour cette 59ème session du Conseil des droits de l’homme (CDH) des Nations Unies, un accent particulier a été placé sur la promotion des droits des femmes et de l’égalité de genre, ainsi que sur les droits des personnes LGBT. La session, qui s'est clôturée aujourd’hui après trois semaines et demie de débats, a été marquée par une adaptation du travail imposée par les restrictions budgétaires affectant l’ensemble du système onusien.

Switzerland reopens its embassy in Iran – ambassador returns to Tehran

06.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
As of today, 6 July 2025, the Swiss embassy in Tehran is open again after having temporarily closed on 20 June due to the unstable situation in Iran. Ambassador Nadine Olivieri Lozano and a small team returned to Tehran yesterday overland via Azerbaijan. The embassy will gradually resume operations.

Ignazio Cassis in Asia for ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and bilateral talks

03.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, the head of the FDFA, will be travelling to Asia from 7 to 13 July 2025. He will attend the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur. His participation highlights the growing economic and geopolitical importance of the South East Asian states. Official working visits to Nepal, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore are also planned around the conference.

Presentation of credentials

02.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
Ambassadors newly accredited to Switzerland present their credentials

FDFA State Secretary Alexandre Fasel in Germany for political consultations

01.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
Alexandre Fasel, the state secretary of the FDFA, was in Berlin on 1 July 2025 to hold political consultations with his German counterpart, the state secretary of the Federal Foreign Office, Géza Andreas von Geyr. Talks focused on current geopolitical developments, bilateral issues and the opening of the consultation procedure in Switzerland on the agreements in the new Swiss-EU package. Mr Fasel also met with the state secretary of Germany's Federal Chancellery, Jörg Semmler.

Switzerland attends 4th International Conference on Financing for Development

30.06.2025 — Press releases EDA
Switzerland will be participating in the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Seville, Spain, from 30 June to 3 July 2025. Organised under the auspices of the United Nations, this global event aims to address financing challenges in order to help achieve the 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals. The conference will cover a wide range of issues relating to development policy, environmental, economic and social sustainability, and macroeconomics. The Swiss delegation is being led by Patricia Danzi, director general of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

Karin Keller-Sutter to meet Emmanuel Macron in Paris

27.06.2025 — Press releases EDA
The President of the Swiss Confederation, Karin Keller-Sutter, is to meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Tuesday, 1 July. The geopolitical situation and security issues will be at the centre of their discussions. Also on the agenda are bilateral relations between Switzerland and France, European policy and competitiveness.

Security and defence partnership: Federal Council to seek exploratory talks with the EU

25.06.2025 — Press releases EDA
At its meeting on 25 June 2025, the Federal Council decided to enter into exploratory talks with the EU with a view to concluding a security and defence partnership. These partnerships provide the EU with a framework for enhancing cooperation with third countries in this field. A security and defence partnership takes the form of non-legally-binding declaration of intent and can be designed individually. A partnership of this kind is a prerequisite for any joint procurements in the defence sector. It is compatible with neutrality and helps to strengthen Switzerland's defence capabilities.

Switzerland to host a global summit on artificial intelligence in 2027

25.06.2025 — Press releases EDA
On 25 June 2025, the Federal Council expressed its intention to host an artificial intelligence (AI) summit in Geneva in 2027.

Earthquake simulation exercise: 12 countries train in Kriens to save lives

25.06.2025 — Press releases EDA
The earthquakes in Myanmar in April 2025 and in Turkey in February 2023 claimed countless lives. Internationally deployable rescue teams provide vital assistance in such emergencies, and regular training is key to ensuring the efficiency of their operations. To that end Switzerland is conducting the international earthquake simulation exercise ‘SIMEX25’ in Kriens (canton of Lucerne) from 23 to 27 June. Rescue teams from 12 countries are taking part.

FDFA State Secretary Alexandre Fasel holds political consultations in France

25.06.2025 — Press releases EDA
FDFA State Secretary Alexandre Fasel was in Paris on 25 June 2025 for political consultations. In addition to bilateral topics and cross-border issues, the talks at France's Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs centred on current geopolitical developments and the opening of the consultation procedure in Switzerland on the agreements in the new Swiss–EU package to stabilise and develop relations.

Swiss international cooperation gets very good marks from OECD

11.02.2014 — Press releases EDA
The quality and effectiveness of Swiss international cooperation are recognised in the latest country review by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on Switzerland. Singled out for particular praise are the increase in official development assistance to 0.5% of gross national income and the new joint SDC/SECO international cooperation strategy 2013–2016.

Switzerland working to prevent torture and combat early marriage in Tajikistan

11.02.2014 — Press releases EDA
The 5th round of human rights talks between Switzerland and Tajikistan took place in Dushanbe from 10 to 11 February 2014. The aim of this annual meeting is to take stock of progress made in the protection and promotion of human rights. This year, particular emphasis was placed on the prevention of torture and early marriage.

President of the Swiss Confederation Didier Burkhalter meets Ukrainian President Yanukovych in Sochi

10.02.2014 — Press releases EDA
President Burkhalter emphasizes the importance of a peaceful solution of the crisis in Ukraine.

Change in immigration system: Yes to popular initiative aimed at stopping mass immigration

09.02.2014 — Press releases EDA
The Swiss population has adopted a popular initiative aimed at stopping mass immigration. This brings with it a change of system in Switzerland’s immigration policy. The new constitutional provisions require that immigration be restricted by means of quantitative limits and quotas. The Federal Council will set to work on implementing these without delay.

President of the Swiss Confederation arrives in Sochi for the opening of the Winter Olympics

07.02.2014 — Press releases EDA
Following his visit to Japan, President Didier Burkhalter arrived in Sochi on Friday for the opening of the Winter Olympics and to launch celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Russia. Mr Didier Burkhalter, accompanied by his wife, will head to Fisht stadium to attend the opening ceremony of the XXII Olympic Winter Games.

Vorbereitungen auf die OSZE-Ministerratskonferenz in Basel

03.02.2014 — Press releases EDA

Medienmitteilung Kanton Basel-Stadt

President of the Swiss Confederation in Tokyo to celebrate 150th anniversary of friendly and fruitful relations between Switzerland and Japan

03.02.2014 — Press releases EDA
The friendship between Switzerland and Japan formed the focal point of the meeting between President Didier Burkhalter, accompanied by his wife, and Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko on the first day of his visit to the country. The visit signals the start of celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of bilateral relations between Switzerland and the island nation. Relations between the two countries are friendly and fruitful. Japan is Switzerland's second largest economic partner in Asia.

Italy

31.01.2014 — Press releases EDA
Today, the Head of the Federal Department of Finance (FDF), Federal Councillor Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, met with Italy's Minister of Economy and Finance, Fabrizio Saccomanni, during his working visit to Bern. After the meeting, the President of the Swiss Confederation, Didier Burkhalter, together with Minister Saccomanni, opened the 2nd Forum for dialogue between Switzerland and Italy.

President Didier Burkhalter to visit Japan to mark 150th anniversary of bilateral relations

29.01.2014 — Press releases EDA
President Didier Burkhalter will travel to Japan between 3 and 6 February. The visit marks the 150th anniversary of bilateral relations between Switzerland and the island nation. The president, who is travelling with his wife, will open the celebrations at a dedicated event. In addition to an audience with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, and a meeting with Crown Prince Naruhito, the programme includes official talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida. Japan is Switzerland's second largest economic partner in Asia.

Switzerland and Poland agree on joint declaration to strengthen bilateral cooperation

28.01.2014 — Press releases EDA
During his official visit to Poland, President Didier Burkhalter agreed on a joint declaration with President Bronisław Komorowski in Warsaw today. The declaration envisages regular political discussions and greater cooperation in a range of areas including economic affairs, energy, transport, the environment and tourism. Following his discussion with Prime Minister Donald Tusk, President Burkhalter also signed an agreement on Schengen cooperation with Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski. On the second day of his visit to Poland President Burkhalter will travel to Krakow to find out about projects supported by Switzerland as part of its EU enlargement contribution. This will be followed in the afternoon by a visit to the Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau concentration camps.

Returning stolen assets more efficiently – international experts meet in Switzerland

28.01.2014 — Press releases EDA
At Switzerland's invitation, around 90 international investigators and prosecutors from 30 countries and specialist international organisations met from 26 to 28 January 2014 in Lausanne. Ten years after the adoption of the UN Convention against Corruption, they discussed how "potentates' assets" can be identified and returned to the country of origin more efficiently. The participants also held numerous bilateral meetings in the margins of the event to discuss current asset recovery cases, including those relating to Arab spring countries.

President Didier Burkhalter pays an official visit to Poland

27.01.2014 — Press releases EDA
On 27 January President Didier Burkhalter will be received in Warsaw by the Polish President Bronisław Komorowski for an official presidential visit, the equivalent of a state visit in Switzerland. The three bilateral talks with President Komorowski, Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski will focus on bilateral relations, European policy, Switzerland's chairmanship of the OSCE, as well as a range of international and multilateral issues. On the morning of 28 January President Burkhalter will travel to Cracow where he will visit projects supported by Switzerland as part of its contribution towards EU enlargement. The afternoon will be set aside for a visit to the concentration camps of Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau.

SwissInTouch, Switzerland in your pocket

24.11.2022 — Article EDA
Approximately 780,000 Swiss citizens abroad currently benefit from the wide range of services provided by a global network of representations offering advice and support. The FDFA Helpline is also on hand to answer queries 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Now there's a new app that makes staying in touch even easier: SwissInTouch keeps Switzerland at your fingertips.

Speech - 150e anniversaire du passage de la frontière de l’armée du général Bourbaki

29.01.2022 — EDA
Allocution du président de la Confédération Ignazio Cassis, chef du Département fédéral des affaires étrangères, à l’occasion du 150e anniversaire du passage de la frontière de l’armée du général Bourbaki - Check against delivery.

"Digitalisation - an opportunity for Europe's democratic values"

21.05.2021 — EDA
Speech by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), on the occasion of the 131st (virtual) Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. Check against delivery.

Official opening of the Ceneri Base Tunnel

04.09.2020 — EDA
Camorino, 04.09.2020 - Address by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis on the occasion of the Inauguration Ceremony "Ceneri2020" - Check against delivery

Passaggio di testimone tra generazioni (de-fr-it)

25.08.2020 — EDA
Bern, 25.08.2020: Address by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis on the occasion of the retirement of the ambassadors and the welcoming of the young diplomats who are taking up their posts in the service of the FDFA. Check against delivery.

75 years of the United Nations (fr)

26.06.2020 — EDA
Geneva, 26.06.2020: Address by the Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis on the 75th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Charter - Check against delivery

Opening of the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council (fr)

24.02.2020 — EDA
Geneva, 24.02.2020 - Speech by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis - Check against delivery

Discover the world with the FDFA and with peace mind

17.01.2020 — Article EDA
Just what is the perfect trip abroad? And where would it take you? Swiss travellers have different needs and expectations – some prefer to go on their own, others would rather choose an organised tour. It doesn't matter if you're a backpacker or a jet-setter: the FDFA provides a wide range of services for anyone who wants to travel abroad.

Switzerland and Italy reach an agreement on Campione d'Italia

20.12.2019 — EDA
At its meeting on 20 December 2019, the Federal Council approved an exchange of notes between Switzerland and Italy regarding the change of the customs status of the Italian enclave of Campione d'Italia. This exchange of notes is necessary to ensure legal certainty and facilitates the transition of Campione d'Italia into the European Union's customs territory, scheduled for 1 January 2020.

Third meeting of the Working Group on Unresolved Issues established by the Joint Committee supervising the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of Georgia and the Government of the Russian Federation

19.12.2019 — EDA
On 16 and 17 December 2019 a third meeting of the Working Group on Unresolved Issues established by the Joint Committee, supervising the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of Georgia and the Government of the Russian Federation on the basic principles for a mechanism of customs administration and monitoring of trade in goods, signed on 9 November 2011, took place in Bern.

First Global Refugee Forum in Geneva brings together actors committed to finding shared solutions

17.12.2019 — EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis has opened the Global Refugee Forum together with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. The purpose of the forum, which takes place on 17 and 18 December at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, is to find shared solutions to meet the needs of refugees and their host communities.

Federal Council extends freeze on assets relating to Tunisia and Ukraine

13.12.2019 — EDA
On 13 December 2019, the Federal Council decided to extend for one year the preventive freeze on the assets relating to Tunisia and Ukraine. The purpose of this decision is to support the judicial cooperation between Switzerland and these two states.