Press releases

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Victims of National Socialism: Call for proposals to design the memorial in Bern

11.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
In April 2023, the Federal Council decided to establish a memorial in the centre of Bern for the victims of National Socialism. The Federal Council considers it vital to keep alive the memory of the consequences of National Socialism, as well as the fate of the six million Jews and all other victims of the Nazi regime. On the recommendation of the communal parliament of the City of Bern, the Casinoterrasse near the Federal Parliament was selected as the location for the site of remembrance. A call is now being organised to gather proposals for the its creation from multidisciplinary teams in the fields of art, architecture and history.

Switzerland reaffirms its commitment to reconstruction at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 in Rome

11.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
The Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) has been held since 2022 to coordinate reconstruction efforts in Ukraine. At this year's conference, which took place in Rome from 10 to 11 July, the head of the Swiss delegation, Jacques Gerber, signed an international treaty with Ukraine. This forms the legal basis for increased cooperation with the Swiss private sector in reconstruction. Projects in the areas of health, education and war risk insurance were also approved.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis at ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Conference: global security and bilateral relations at centre of talks

11.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
On 10 and 11 July, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis attended the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Malaysia. His participation underlines South East Asia's growing economic importance to Switzerland. Mr Cassis used the platform to discuss economic ties, bilateral relations and global challenges with his counterparts from Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore. For the first time, he also met the new Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand on the margins of the conference.

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.

Media (3504)

Erste Verhandlungsrunde Schweiz-EU über die Teilnahme der Schweiz am Europäischen Unterstützungsbüro für Asylfragen (EASO)

21.05.2012 — Press releases EDA
In Brüssel haben am 21. Mai 2012 die Verhandlungen über die Teilnahme der Schweiz am Europäischen Unterstützungsbüro für Asylfragen (EASO) begonnen. Zu den Hauptaufgaben von EASO gehört es, Mitgliedstaaten zu unterstützen, deren Asyl- und Aufnahmesysteme besonderem Druck ausgesetzt sind. Die Verhandlungen werden gemeinsam mit den anderen assoziierten Staaten – Norwegen, Liechtenstein und Island – geführt.

Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter to participate at the NATO Summit in Chicago

18.05.2012 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter will participate at the NATO Summit scheduled to be held on 20 and 21 May 2012 in Chicago. On this occasion, the Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) will evoke the common challenges the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and its partner states including Switzerland are facing, and the best approaches to coping with them in the years to come.

Switzerland

17.05.2012 — Press releases EDA
The first round of discussions on human right issues between Switzerland and Senegal took place on 15 May 2012 in the Senegalese capital Dakar. The talks focused on Switzerland's priority topics, workshops were held with the participation of experts and accompanying projects were initiated. With the launch of such bilateral human rights consultations, Switzerland is stepping up its activity in West Africa. Senegal is the second West African country after Nigeria with which Switzerland is conducting such a dialogue.

Expo Milano 2015 on our doorstep

16.05.2012 — Press releases EDA
On 16 May the Federal Council approved the credit for Swiss participation at Expo 2015 in Milan, where the theme will be "Feeding the planet, energy for life". The total budget will be CHF 23.1, of which CHF 8 million will come from sponsoring. Expo 2015 is centrally important for Switzerland because of our geographical, cultural and economic proximity to Italy. The Swiss participation organised by Presence Switzerland in the FDFA is a unique chance to present Switzerland with its cultural and geographical diversity, its research capacity, innovativeness and economic potential.

Election of Prof. Lucius Caflisch as chairman of the International Law Commission

11.05.2012 — Press releases EDA
The International Law Commission, a United Nations committee of independent legal experts, has elected Swiss international law professor Lucius Caflisch as its chairman. This election is a mark of recognition of the major contribution of the Swiss member to the work of the Commission. Switzerland accords great importance to this Commission. Compliance and the further development of international law are both priorities of Swiss foreign policy.

Switzerland’s creative appearance at the 2012 Olympic Games in London

10.05.2012 — Press releases EDA
The concept of Switzerland’s official hospitality centre at the 2012 Olympic Games in London was presented in Bern on 10 May. The House of Switzerland United Kingdom 2012 with a total surface area of 3000m2 is located in the heart of London. It will be the venue for celebrating the achievements of Swiss medal winners, the location of the SRG SSR TV studio, and a meeting place for Swiss fans as well as local and international guests.

Switzerland is concerned about the situation of the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike

10.05.2012 — Press releases EDA
Position

Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter to attend the Landsgemeinde (popular assembly) in Glarus accompanied by Austrian Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger

04.05.2012 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter is to attend the Landsgemeinde in Glarus on Sunday 6 May 2012. The head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) will be accompanied by Michael Spindelegger, Austrian Vice Chancellor and Minister of European and International Affairs.

Difficult negotiations in advance of Rio+20

04.05.2012 — Press releases EDA
Progress at the preparatory negotiations on the results of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development to be held in Rio de Janeiro in June (Rio+20) was halting. The industrialised and developing countries remained very divided in their positions during the second round of negotiations, which were held from 23 April to 4 May 2012 in New York.

Deployment of unarmed Swiss military observers in Syria

04.05.2012 — Press releases EDA
The Federal Council has decided in a circular procedure to send up to eight army members to participate in the mission to monitor the ceasefire and the peace plan in Syria. This decision is a response to an enquiry by the UN.

FDFA Helpline now operating around the clock (last modification, the 02.05.2012)

02.05.2012 — Press releases EDA
Since 1 May 2012, the FDFA Helpline is available for Swiss citizens 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The number – 0800 24-7-365 – meets a real need in view of the 700,000 Swiss citizens living abroad and the approximately 16 million trips made outside Switzerland every year by Swiss citizens.

Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter opens the International Conference in Geneva on Afghan Displacement

02.05.2012 — Press releases EDA
The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan that has lasted three decades has resulted in millions of Afghan refugees now living in Iran and Pakistan. These three countries and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have developed a strategy to find solutions which they will present on 2-3 May 2012 in Geneva in the context of an international conference. This conference, which was opened by the head of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Didier Burkhalter, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, aims to implement lasting solutions.

Other news (151)

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.

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