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 News Service of the Federal Administration.
25.01.2016
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Press releases
EDA
Negotiations between Switzerland and the European Union (EU) on linking their emissions trading schemes have concluded. Bruno Oberle, Director of the Federal Office for the Environment (until the end of 2015), Dominique Paravicini, Deputy Director of the Directorate for European Affairs (DEA), and Jos Delbeke, Director General of the EU’s Directorate-General for Climate Action, have initialled the agreement. The expansion of the international CO2 market by linking national or regional emissions trading schemes can provide an effective means of combating climate change.
22.01.2016
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Press releases
EDA
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was the key focus area at this year's annual conference of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The 17 goals of the global 2030 Agenda will play a decisive role in Swiss development policy over the coming years. The speakers and experts dealt with different aspects of the Agenda: the negotiations, the implementation and financing, and what it means for Switzerland. Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter spoke specifically of how it relates to Swiss policy. The opening speech was made by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
22.01.2016
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Press releases
EDA
Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon discussed the situation in several crisis regions during a working lunch in Zurich today. Other topics under discussion were the migration crisis, the fight against violent extremism and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Mr Burkhalter stressed that implementing the agenda, which was adopted in autumn 2015, now requires immediate attention.
21.01.2016
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Press releases
EDA
Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter used his presence at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos as an opportunity to meet with the foreign ministers of various EU member states. His talks with the representatives of France (Fabius), Italy (Gentiloni) and Poland (Waszczykowski) centred on a mutually agreed safeguard clause as a solution on the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons.
21.01.2016
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Press releases
EDA
The next world fair will take place in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, from 10 June to 10 September 2017. Under the motto of 'Future Energy', participating states will address the issue of the sustainable use of limited resources. With the conclusion of a participation agreement with Expo Astana 2017 on 21 January 2016, Switzerland formally confirmed to the organisers of the world fair the decision taken by the Federal Council on 22 April 2015.
21.01.2016
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Press releases
EDA
At the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter discussed with various partners the situation in the Middle East and possibilities to end the Syrian conflict. He underscored the need to clarify the steps to a peaceful solution through dialogue, which was why every effort must be undertaken to ensure that the Syria talks are able to go ahead next week in Geneva. One topic of his meetings, including those with US Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Jawad Zarif, was also humanitarian access to those in need in the conflict zones.
20.01.2016
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Press releases
EDA
The State Secretary for the State Secretariat for International Financial Matters (SIF), Jacques de Watteville (64), will leave SIF at the end of June 2016 due to his age. He will continue to act as the chief negotiator, with the rank of state secretary, for all of the negotiations with the European Union after retiring.
19.01.2016
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Press releases
EDA
The Federal Council considers the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) to be of great importance for Davos and for Switzerland. Each year, this event brings together leading figures from business and politics for informal exchanges. In view of the current economic and political challenges, the opportunity for such direct contact among decision-makers is extremely valuable.
17.01.2016
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Press releases
EDA
Switzerland welcomes the agreement between Iran and the United States which has made possible the release of eleven prisoners. At the request of both parties, Switzerland provided its good offices to facilitate the conclusion of the agreement.
16.01.2016
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Press releases
EDA
A large number of people were killed and injured in terrorist attacks on a hotel and restaurant in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) on Friday night. Two Swiss citizens were also among the victims. Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), strongly condemns the attacks and wishes to express his deepest sympathies to the relatives of the victims.
15.01.2016
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Press releases
EDA
Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Friday in Beijing as part of the political dialogue between Switzerland and China. At this sixth round of talks since the dialogue between the two countries began in 2007, the agenda included the development of bilateral relations at the political, economic and financial levels, as well as an exchange of views on key foreign policy issues.
14.01.2016
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Press releases
EDA
The Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, has appointed Swiss Ambassador Günther Bächler as the special representative for the South Caucasus during Germany's chairmanship of the OSCE. He took up the post of special representative on 1 January 2016 upon Germany's assumption of the chairmanship. The Federal Council yesterday reconferred the title of ambassador on Mr Bächler.
Last update 23.04.2025
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