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President Amherd and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen open negotiations between Switzerland and the EU

18.03.2024 — Press releases EDA
On Monday, 18 March, President Viola Amherd and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen officially opened negotiations between Switzerland and the European Union (EU) in the presence of the chief negotiators from both sides. While in Brussels, Ms Amherd also met with Maroš Šefčovič, Executive Vice President of the European Commission. In addition to bilateral relations between Switzerland and the EU, geopolitical and security policy challenges facing Europe were also discussed.


Summit for Democracy: opportunities and risks of AI for democracy

18.03.2024 — Press releases EDA
The third edition of the Summit for Democracy is scheduled to be held in the Republic of Korea from 18 to 20 March under the banner of 'Democracy for Future Generations'. Ambassador Simon Geissbühler delivered a statement at Monday's ministerial meeting which focused on the impact of artificial intelligence and digital technologies on democracy.


Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis to travel to East Africa

14.03.2024 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will travel to Ethiopia, Djibouti and Kenya from 17 to 22 March 2024. Discussions will focus on bilateral relations and regional geopolitical issues. Possible avenues for a peace process in Ukraine will also be explored. The Greater Horn of Africa is one of the most dynamic regions in the world, but is also one of the most fragile and severely affected by conflict. Mr Cassis will meet with the presidents and foreign ministers of all three countries. A meeting is also scheduled with the chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission. The AU joined the G20 earlier this year.


Switzerland advocates sustainable food systems at 2024 Regional Forum in Geneva

14.03.2024 — Press releases EDA
On 13–14 March 2024, representatives of the more than 30 member states of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) met in Geneva to discuss their progress and challenges in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. At the 2024 Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, discussions focused on how to find sustainable and innovative solutions to implement the goals of the 2030 Agenda at a time dominated by crisis and conflict. Sustainable food systems are one of Switzerland's priority areas for action.


Switzerland delivers further relief supplies to Ukraine

13.03.2024 — Press releases EDA
Since the beginning of the war against Ukraine, Switzerland has sent regular shipments of relief goods to those impacted, with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) spearheading the effort financially and logistically. The first of three aid consignments in 2024 arrived in Kyiv today. The deliveries are made up of spare parts for fire engines, humanitarian demining equipment and medical supplies. This aid, valued at around CHF 900,000, is provided from the stock of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports (DDPS) and the city of Burgdorf in the Canton of Bern.


Swiss–EU relations: Federal Council approves definitive negotiating mandate

08.03.2024 — Press releases EDA
At its meeting on 8 March 2024, the Federal Council approved the negotiating mandate with the EU in its definitive form. The mandate adopted takes account of the results of the consultation with the foreign affairs committees (FACs) and other interested parliamentary committees, the cantons and the views of the social and economic partners. Negotiations will begin as soon as the European Commission has adopted its own definitive mandate, expected sometime in March 2024.


Switzerland seen from abroad in 2023: media focus on Credit Suisse and the war in Ukraine, while image among the general public remains good

05.03.2024 — Press releases EDA
In 2023, Switzerland received enormous attention in the international media due to the collapse of Credit Suisse and its consequences. As in 2022, Switzerland's position regarding the war in Ukraine continued to receive regular media coverage. Switzerland's image among the general public abroad remained very good overall. However, in a number of countries Switzerland also faced some criticism.


New Swiss ambassadors

01.03.2024 — Press releases EDA
A number of staff changes and conferments of ambassadorial titles have been announced for the summer of 2024 for several Swiss representations abroad, at the head office of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), as part of the FDFA's periodic transfer rotation and on the basis of appointments made by the Federal Council.


Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis attends Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey

29.02.2024 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will represent Switzerland at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum to be held in Turkey from 1 to 3 March. The third edition of the forum will address the issue of 'Advancing Diplomacy in Times of Turmoil'. During the high-level forum, Mr Cassis will participate in a panel discussion on Europe's security architecture. He will also use the dialogue platform to hold various talks on the prerequisites for a peace process in Ukraine.


Ignazio Cassis receives foreign minister of Côte d'Ivoire on courtesy visit to Bern

28.02.2024 — Press releases EDA
On 28 February, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis met Kacou Houadja Léon Adom, Côte d'Ivoire's Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Diaspora, during a courtesy visit to Bern. Talks focused on bilateral relations, security and stability in the Sahel and Gulf of Guinea, and multilateral cooperation between the two countries.


Travel Admin 3.0: the FDFA's travel app is now even more efficient

27.02.2024 — Press releases EDA
Travel Admin 3.0 goes live on 27 February 2024. The latest version of the travel app, which is provided free of charge by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), has been upgraded and redesigned and is now easier than ever to use. Launched in 2019, the Consular Directorate's Travel Admin app has proved useful to travellers facing emergencies abroad, including armed conflicts, natural disasters and accidents.


"History has shown us that nothing can be taken for granted, neither human rights nor peace": Ignazio Cassis at the Human Rights Council opening session

26.02.2024 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis has today opened the high-level segment of the UN Human Rights Council's 55th session. In his capacity as head of the FDFA, Mr Cassis emphasised the central importance of protecting human rights in order to stem many of today's crises – particularly in the Middle East and Ukraine. Over the next three days, Geneva will host a number of high-level representatives from 130 countries who are meeting at the Human Rights Council to discuss the current failure to respect human rights and how this is impacting the world.

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