All news (3659)

UN conference on the Middle East: Switzerland calls emphatically for diplomatic steps towards a two-state solution

30.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
At the UN conference on the two-state solution which took place from 28 to 30 July 2025 in New York, Switzerland called for respect for international humanitarian law by all parties, including the unhindered provision of humanitarian aid to the people of the Gaza Strip and the release of all hostages, an immediate and lasting ceasefire and serious diplomatic efforts to implement the two-state solution. Around 120 states attended the conference.

Switzerland to take part in high-level conference on Middle East and two-state solution

25.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
France and Saudi Arabia will co-chair the high-level international conference to promote a lasting peace in the Middle East and the implementation of the two-state solution. The conference will be held from 28 to 30 July 2025 in New York, under the auspices of the United Nations. Switzerland will be taking part alongside numerous international partners.

UN Sustainable Development Goals: Switzerland calls on all stakeholders to step up cooperation

18.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
This year's High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) is taking place from 14 to 23 July 2025 at the UN headquarters in New York. The Swiss delegation is being led by Markus Reubi, the Federal Council Delegate for the 2030 Agenda at the FDFA and will focus on economic growth and decent work.

State Secretary for Security Policy to travel to Chisinau for security policy dialogue with Moldova

17.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
Markus Mäder, State Secretary for Security Policy, will hold talks on current security policy developments and bilateral cooperation with his counterparts in Chisinau (Moldova) from 17 to 18 July.

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

Media (3508)

Message on Switzerland’s International Cooperation in 2013 – 2016

15.02.2012 — Press releases EDA
On 15 February 2012, the Federal Council transmitted to Parliament the Message on Switzerland’s International Cooperation in the period 2013 – 16. For the first time, the Message describes in one document the tasks of humanitarian aid, development cooperation, economic and trade policy measures within the framework of development cooperation, and cooperation with the countries of Eastern Europe. While the principal objective of development cooperation remains poverty reduction, in the future, Switzerland plans to work more closely in fragile contexts and to contribute to overcoming global challenges which seriously worsen the prospects of poor countries.

Visit by Bavarian Minister-President Horst Seehofer to Bern

13.02.2012 — Press releases EDA
The President of the Swiss Confederation, Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, head of the Federal Department of Finance (FDF), has today received the Bavarian Minister-President and President of the German Bundesrat, Horst Seehofer in Bern for a courtesy visit. Other meetings took place with Federal Councillors Didier Burkhalter and Johann Schneider-Ammann as well as with the President of the Council of States, Hans Altherr. In addition to discussions on Swiss European policy, the agenda of the talks focused on bilateral relations with Germany and in particular relations between Switzerland and Bavaria, covering economic and fiscal issues as well as questions concerning transport and energy.

Switzerland to be chairman-in-office of the OSCE in 2014

10.02.2012 — Press releases EDA
Switzerland will be chairman-in-office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2014. The choice of Switzerland was confirmed today by the OSCE. Switzerland stood for this office together with Serbia, which will chair the organisation in 2015. The two countries have agreed to cooperate closely.

The new Foreign Policy Report is now available

02.02.2012 — Press releases EDA
Following approval by the Federal Council, the Foreign Policy Report 2011 has now been published. It provides an overview of Swiss foreign policy and gives an account of the main foreign policy activities of Switzerland in 2011. The report also deals with a priority subject - the upheavals in the Arab world and what they mean for Switzerland.

Switzerland to remain in the US Visa Waiver Programme: FDJP to formulate mandate

01.02.2012 — Press releases EDA
Bern - On Wednesday the Federal Council decided that Switzerland would remain in the US Visa Waiver Programme (VWP). However, the USA has attached conditions to participation in the VWP. It requires that two agreements in the security area should be finalised. The Federal Council has instructed the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) to formulate a negotiation mandate in this area. Parliament and the Cantons will be consulted before the final granting of the mandate. Data protection aspects will be duly taken into account in the negotiation of the agreements.

The Federal Council defines the next steps for the continuation of bilateral negotiations with the EU

01.02.2012 — Press releases EDA
The Federal Council wishes to move forward rapidly in negotiations with the EU on the electricity/energy dossier. In the framework of these discussions, the aim is also to seek solutions for institutional questions. In this way the electricity/energy dossier is being given priority treatment in the framework of the implementation of a holistic and coordinated approach. The Federal Council today outlined the next steps in the form of a roadmap. The Federal Council has also invited the cantons to take part in a regular dialogue with central government about European issues.

Rumori dovuti al traffico aereo: la Svizzera e la Germania si sono accordati sui principi base per una soluzione

28.01.2012 — Press releases EDA
La Consigliera federale Doris Leuthard e il Ministro dei trasporti tedesco Peter Ramsauer si sono accordati oggi a Davos sui principi base per una soluzione alla vertenza sul rumore generato dal traffico aereo da e verso l'aeroporto di Zurigo e hanno firmato una comune dichiarazione d'intenti. Tali principi andranno ora concretizzati ulteriormente e fissati in una Convenzione bilaterale da sottoporre alla ratifica dei due Paesi entro l'estate 2012.

Maxi Project for Micro-Insurance for Small Farmers

26.01.2012 — Press releases EDA
On the margins of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, SDC Director-General Martin Dahinden held a meeting on 26 January 2012 with representatives of the AllianzRe insurance company for an exchange on a joint project to provide millions of rice farmers in Asia with enhanced security against crop losses. Thanks to vanguard technology, a substantial improvement is to be made in forecasting crop yields, thereby enabling smallholders to conclude micro-insurance policies.

Swiss international cooperation in 2007: Working to achieve the Millennium Development Goals

25.01.2012 — Press releases EDA
Switzerland contributed some CHF 2.02 billion in ODA funding in support of the Millennium Development Goals in 2007. Swiss ODA was partly used to increase the number of people with access to safe drinking water, a factor that helps to reduce poverty. These figures come from the 2007 Annual Report on Switzerland’s international cooperation and a Report on aid effectiveness in the water sector. These reports were jointly published by the SDC and SECO today.

Switzerland committed to the protection of national minorities

25.01.2012 — Press releases EDA
Bern – On 25 January 2012, the Federal Council approved Switzerland’s third report on the implementation of the Framework Convention of the Council of Europe for the Protection of National Minorities. Major progress has been achieved in the last few years, however there is scope for further improvement with regard to the situation of the Traveller communities.

Restitution of illicit assets in the context of the Arab Spring: meeting of experts in Lausanne

24.01.2012 — Press releases EDA
An international meeting of experts to discuss the restitution of illicit assets took place on 23 and 24 of January in Lausanne. Their discussions focused on issues relating to the recovery of assets illegally acquired by politically exposed persons associated with the upheavals in the Arab world in 2011.

The Federal Council approves the Dispatch to Parliament on the protection of the Swiss Embassy in Tripoli

18.01.2012 — Press releases EDA
On 18 January 2012, the Federal Council approved the Dispatch to Parliament on the deployment of the Swiss Armed Forces to protect the Swiss Embassy in Tripoli. A detachment has been deployed for a period of six months, taking over this task from a private security company.

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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