All news (849)
Focus on European policy and bilateral issues during presidential visit to Bulgaria
02.11.2017
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Press release
EDA
On Thursday, 2 November, President Doris Leuthard, held the now traditional talks with the future EU Council presidency. The themes addressed during the discussions with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, Prime Minister Bojko Borissov and further members of the government included European policy, as well as bilateral and international issues.
Wildfires in northern Italy: Switzerland sends helicopters and personnel
30.10.2017
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Press release
EDA
Switzerland has sent reinforcements to Italy to help extinguish the fires that have been raging throughout several regions of Piedmont and Lombardy for the last week. Three of the Swiss Armed Forces’ Super Puma helicopters joined the firefighting efforts this afternoon. At the same time, a humanitarian team travelled to Bergamo, where it became part of the operations centre run by Italy’s civil protection authorities.
La Suisse soutient le Burkina Faso dans la lutte contre la pauvreté
25.10.2017
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Press release
EDA
Le Conseil fédéral a décidé le 25 octobre 2017 d’octroyer au Burkina Faso une aide budgétaire générale d’un montant de 30 millions de francs pour les années 2017 à 2020. L’appui vise à soutenir le pays dans la mise en œuvre de sa nouvelle stratégie de développement économique et social, laquelle cherche à ajuster structurellement le pays en générant une croissance forte, durable, inclusive et créatrice d’emplois.
The SDC works to create healthy living conditions in Mongolia
20.10.2017
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Article
DEZA
Soil, air and water pollution not only burdens our environment, it also endangers our health. Mining in Mongolia threatens both the environment and human health. The SDC is actively addressing this problem: its Sustainable Artisanal Mining project (SAM) is helping to give artisanal mining a legal status while thus creating more healthy living conditions for miners.
Independent evaluation confirms effectiveness of partnerships and identifies potential for improvement
19.10.2017
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Article
DEZA
Partnerships with Swiss non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are central to Switzerland’s efforts in development cooperation and humanitarian aid. This was confirmed by an independent evaluation mandated by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in order to assess the results that have been achieved and find areas with potential for improving institutional partnerships.
Switzerland is committed to the fight against tuberculosis in Eastern Ukraine
18.10.2017
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Press release
EDA
The seventh Swiss Humanitarian Aid convoy reached the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk earlier today. The consignment included a new device to speed up the diagnosis of tuberculosis and help reduce the spread of this dangerous lung disease.
Safer, earthquake-resistant housing
13.10.2017
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Article
DEZA
With an increase in disasters caused by violent natural phenomena, prevention is now key. The SDC is involved in earthquake-resistant reconstruction in countries such as Nepal and Ecuador, where 7.8 magnitude earthquakes recently destroyed homes on a massive scale.
Switzerland supports cooperation projects in Eritrea
12.10.2017
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Press release
EDA
Having withdrawn from the country over ten years ago, the SDC has now resumed support for cooperation projects in Eritrea. In October 2017, it began supporting two vocational projects in a pilot phase scheduled to run until the end of 2019.
Instrument of ratification deposited: Paris climate agreement to enter into force for Switzerland on 5 November 2017
06.10.2017
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Press release
EDA
Switzerland deposited its instrument of ratification in New York on 6 October 2017, making it an official party to the Paris Agreement. The agreement will come into effect for Switzerland 30 days later, on 5 November 2017. One of the agreement's main objectives is to maintain the increase in global temperatures well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. Switzerland was actively involved in the negotiations leading up to the climate agreement.
Strategic partnership, peace process, development cooperation: FDFA State Secretary Baeriswyl visits South Africa and Mozambique
05.10.2017
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Press release
EDA
As part of an official visit due to end on 6 October 2017, the State Secretary of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Pascale Baeriswyl, has held consultations on policy matters with South Africa, which Switzerland regards as a strategic partner. Taking advantage of her presence in the region, she then also travelled on to the Republic of Mozambique, where she was received today by President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi for deliberations on the peace process. Switzerland and Mozambique have a long tradition of development cooperation and their efforts to resolve the conflict within the country are therefore based on a solid foundation of trust.
72nd Session of the UN General Assembly: Didier Burkhalter in New York to defend Switzerland's priorities
18.09.2017
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Press release
EDA
Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), attended the opening session of the 72nd General Assembly of the United Nations on Monday in New York with the aim of building bridges and creating coalitions to defend key priorities of Switzerland's foreign policy.
Water, driver of peace: Global Panel on Water and Peace publishes recommendations
14.09.2017
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Press release
EDA
"Since water supply is likely to become a major source of tension in the coming years, there is huge potential today to make water a key medium for cooperation and a driver of peace," the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, told the members of the Global Panel on Water and Peace. The panel chaired by former Slovenian President Danilo Türk was launched in November 2015. In Geneva on Thursday, its 15 member states presented the results of their work in the form of a set of recommendations to prevent and resolve water-related conflicts.