Here you can find the last 12 media releases and other news published by the FDFA, such as statements, announcements and articles, in chronological order.
All media releases can be found on the Administarions's website.
24.03.2023
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Press release
EDA
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has signed contribution agreements worth around CHF 270 million with 27 partners for the period 2023–24. Swiss NGOs are instrumental in accomplishing Switzerland's international cooperation objectives. With the support of the SDC and in cooperation with their local partners, they create decent jobs, work for the sustainable use of natural resources and transfer Swiss expertise and innovative approaches to local actors.
24.03.2023
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Press release
EDA
The UN 2023 Water Conference, which was held in New York from 22 to 24 March, has resulted in an action agenda. This outcome is expected to help advance progress on SDG 6 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – clean and accessible water for all. The Swiss delegation to the conference emphasised the importance of concerted and effective transboundary water management in making this vital resource a tool for peace and cooperation.
20.03.2023
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Press release
EDA
The Swiss Confederation is extending its support to the populations of the earthquake-hit regions of Turkey and Syria. At the international donors' conference in Brussels, held to secure support for the people of Turkey and Syria in the aftermath of the earthquakes, Manuel Bessler, the Federal Council's delegate for humanitarian aid, announced that Switzerland would contribute CHF 8,5 million towards relief efforts in the affected areas.
20.03.2023
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Press release
EDA
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) welcomes the positive outcome of the negotiations that were held in the canton of Bern. The plan, agred this afternoon at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, was concluded thanks to facilitation by the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Switzerland supports the UN peace process in Yemen as part of its good offices policy.
17.03.2023
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Press release
EDA
The Kantha Bopha children's hospitals, founded by Dr Beat Richner in 1992, have made a major contribution to improving the health system in Cambodia over the past 30 years. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has backed these efforts since the very beginning and will continue to support the hospitals until 2027. On March 17, 2023, SDC Director General Patricia Danzi signed an agreement to this effect with the Kantha Bopha Foundation.
17.03.2023
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Press release
EDA
A number of staff changes and conferments of ambassadorial titles have been announced for 2023 for several Swiss representations abroad and at the head office of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) as part of the usual transfer rotation and on the basis of appointments made by the Federal Council at its meeting on March 17, 2023.
09.03.2023
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Press release
EDA
The state secretary of the FDFA, Livia Leu, met with South Africa's deputy minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Alvin Botes, in Pretoria today for political consultations. The focus was on foreign policy issues as well as bilateral matters in the areas of business, human rights and education, research and innovation. South Africa is a priority country of the Federal Council's Foreign Policy Strategy 2020–23 and Switzerland’s most important economic partner in Africa.
09.03.2023
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Press release
EDA
Private Sector Engagement (PSE) is highlighted in the Swiss International Cooperation Strategy 2021–24 as an important modality to achieve sustainable development and poverty reduction. As part of the ambition to partner with the private sector in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) committed 15 million Swiss francs for the Bamboo-UNCDF Initiative for the Least Developed (BUILD) Fund.
07.03.2023
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Press release
EDA
Francesca Pometta, of Ticino origin, was the first Swiss woman to be appointed ambassador. She was a trailblazer who paved the way for women in the Swiss diplomatic service – and the number of women diplomats has been growing ever since. A room in the Federal Palace West, which houses the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), now bears her name. The inauguration took place on 7 March on the occasion of International Women's Day in the presence of Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis.
06.03.2023
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Press release
EDA
The 67th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) opens on 6 March 2023 in New York with the theme 'Innovation and technological change – education in the digital age'. Switzerland's particular focus is on initiatives to promote women's and girls' access to technology and innovation, and to guard against cyber violence. The president of the Swiss Confederation, Alain Berset, will be heading the Swiss delegation and will speak at the CSW on 6 March. On 7 March, he will deliver a speech to the UN Security Council on women, peace and security.
03.03.2023
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Press release
EDA
At its meeting of 3 March 2023, the Federal Council has decided to capitalise on the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina as a platform to promote Switzerland and its national interests. Northern Italy is one of Switzerland's most important neighbouring regions in economic terms. The House of Switzerland will focus on sustainability and innovation as well as the Alps as a common living and economic space.
01.03.2023
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Press release
EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), received the Chilean Foreign Minister Antonia Urrejola Noguera today in Murten, canton of Fribourg, for an official working visit. The discussions focused on bilateral relations, particularly economic relations, as well as cooperation in environmental, multilateral and other matters.
24.03.2023 —
Press release
EDA
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has signed contribution agreements worth around CHF 270 million with 27 partners for the period 2023–24. Swiss NGOs are instrumental in accomplishing Switzerland's international cooperation objectives. With the support of the SDC and in cooperation with their local partners, they create decent jobs, work for the sustainable use of natural resources and transfer Swiss expertise and innovative approaches to local actors.
24.03.2023 —
Press release
EDA
The UN 2023 Water Conference, which was held in New York from 22 to 24 March, has resulted in an action agenda. This outcome is expected to help advance progress on SDG 6 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – clean and accessible water for all. The Swiss delegation to the conference emphasised the importance of concerted and effective transboundary water management in making this vital resource a tool for peace and cooperation.
20.03.2023 —
Press release
EDA
The Swiss Confederation is extending its support to the populations of the earthquake-hit regions of Turkey and Syria. At the international donors' conference in Brussels, held to secure support for the people of Turkey and Syria in the aftermath of the earthquakes, Manuel Bessler, the Federal Council's delegate for humanitarian aid, announced that Switzerland would contribute CHF 8,5 million towards relief efforts in the affected areas.
20.03.2023 —
Press release
EDA
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) welcomes the positive outcome of the negotiations that were held in the canton of Bern. The plan, agred this afternoon at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, was concluded thanks to facilitation by the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Switzerland supports the UN peace process in Yemen as part of its good offices policy.
17.03.2023 —
Press release
EDA
The Kantha Bopha children's hospitals, founded by Dr Beat Richner in 1992, have made a major contribution to improving the health system in Cambodia over the past 30 years. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has backed these efforts since the very beginning and will continue to support the hospitals until 2027. On March 17, 2023, SDC Director General Patricia Danzi signed an agreement to this effect with the Kantha Bopha Foundation.
17.03.2023 —
Press release
EDA
A number of staff changes and conferments of ambassadorial titles have been announced for 2023 for several Swiss representations abroad and at the head office of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) as part of the usual transfer rotation and on the basis of appointments made by the Federal Council at its meeting on March 17, 2023.
09.03.2023 —
Press release
EDA
The state secretary of the FDFA, Livia Leu, met with South Africa's deputy minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Alvin Botes, in Pretoria today for political consultations. The focus was on foreign policy issues as well as bilateral matters in the areas of business, human rights and education, research and innovation. South Africa is a priority country of the Federal Council's Foreign Policy Strategy 2020–23 and Switzerland’s most important economic partner in Africa.
09.03.2023 —
Press release
EDA
Private Sector Engagement (PSE) is highlighted in the Swiss International Cooperation Strategy 2021–24 as an important modality to achieve sustainable development and poverty reduction. As part of the ambition to partner with the private sector in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) committed 15 million Swiss francs for the Bamboo-UNCDF Initiative for the Least Developed (BUILD) Fund.
07.03.2023 —
Press release
EDA
Francesca Pometta, of Ticino origin, was the first Swiss woman to be appointed ambassador. She was a trailblazer who paved the way for women in the Swiss diplomatic service – and the number of women diplomats has been growing ever since. A room in the Federal Palace West, which houses the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), now bears her name. The inauguration took place on 7 March on the occasion of International Women's Day in the presence of Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis.
06.03.2023 —
Press release
EDA
The 67th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) opens on 6 March 2023 in New York with the theme 'Innovation and technological change – education in the digital age'. Switzerland's particular focus is on initiatives to promote women's and girls' access to technology and innovation, and to guard against cyber violence. The president of the Swiss Confederation, Alain Berset, will be heading the Swiss delegation and will speak at the CSW on 6 March. On 7 March, he will deliver a speech to the UN Security Council on women, peace and security.
03.03.2023 —
Press release
EDA
At its meeting of 3 March 2023, the Federal Council has decided to capitalise on the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina as a platform to promote Switzerland and its national interests. Northern Italy is one of Switzerland's most important neighbouring regions in economic terms. The House of Switzerland will focus on sustainability and innovation as well as the Alps as a common living and economic space.
01.03.2023 —
Press release
EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), received the Chilean Foreign Minister Antonia Urrejola Noguera today in Murten, canton of Fribourg, for an official working visit. The discussions focused on bilateral relations, particularly economic relations, as well as cooperation in environmental, multilateral and other matters.
21.11.2019 —
EDA
Federal Councillors Guy Parmelin and Ignazio Cassis held talks with the heads of government of the International Lake Constance Conference in Bern on 21 November. Talks focused on cross-border cooperation in the Lake Constance area, the New Regional Policy of the Federal Government and Switzerland's European policy.
20.11.2019 —
EDA
UNESCO strives to promote peace and sustainable development through international cooperation in education, science, culture and media development. UNESCO's General Conference has now elected Switzerland to the organisation's Executive Board for 2019–23. The new Executive Board's mandate will include drafting UNESCO's next medium-term strategy for 2022–29.
20.11.2019 —
EDA
At its meeting on 20 November 2019, the Federal Council approved an agreement between Switzerland and the UN on training cooperation in the context of international peace support. The agreement will provide a legal framework for closer longer-term cooperation between Switzerland and the UN in the training sector.
20.11.2019 —
EDA
The right to education, protection, play and leisure – children have certain rights that, alongside their general welfare, states are obliged to guarantee. These obligations are enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was adopted 30 years ago today. To mark the occasion, Mr Cassis, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, opened the doors of the Federal Palace in Bern to two school classes from the canton of Ticino.
18.11.2019 —
EDA
On 18 November 2019 Switzerland and the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers’ Association (ICoCA) signed an agreement on the privileges and immunities accorded to the association in Switzerland. ICoCA plays a major role in ensuring compliance with the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers and in promoting the responsible provision of security services.
14.11.2019 —
EDA
Rund 90 Kinder und Jugendliche haben am Zukunftstag 2019 ihren Eltern oder Bekannten bei der Arbeit im Eidgenössischen Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten EDA über die Schulter und hinter die Kulissen des Departements geschaut. Generalsekretär Markus Seiler zeigte den jungen Gästen das Bundesratszimmer sowie das Büro von Bundesrat Ignazio Cassis, der sich an diesem Tag in Paris befand. An verschiedenen Workshops konnten die Kinder und Jugendlichen verschiedene Aspekte aus der Arbeit des EDA vertieft kennenlernen und eine Medienmitteilung schreiben.
14.11.2019 —
EDA
Speaking at the UNESCO General Conference in Paris, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis called for minorities to be respected, pointing out that this is essential to democratic processes. He also said that Switzerland supports the reform proposals intended to enhance the organisation’s effectiveness and explained the strengths Switzerland can bring to the UNESCO Executive Board. Switzerland is campaigning to gain a seat on the Executive Board in the election on 20 November 2019.
13.11.2019 —
EDA
At its meeting on 13 November 2019, the Federal Council approved the revised Ordinance on the Reduction of CO2 Emissions. This, together with the amendment to the CO2 Act adopted in March 2019 and the agreement with the EU, will enter into force on 1 January 2020. From 2020, emissions from civil aviation and fossil fuel power stations will also be included in the Swiss ETS, as is already the case in the EU. Linking the two schemes allows companies in the Swiss ETS to trade emission allowances in the larger EU emissions market.
12.11.2019 —
EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will represent Switzerland at the UNESCO General Conference on 14 November 2019. The head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) will call for respect for minorities, which is a key element of the democratic process. New members of the UNESCO Executive Board will also be elected during the three-week session. Switzerland – one of the candidates – is one of the biggest contributors to UNESCO measured by population.