Press releases

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Switzerland to take part in world exhibition 2012 in South Korea

05.06.2009 — Press releases EDA
The Federal Council has decided that Switzerland will take part in the category B world exhibition in Yeosu, South Korea, in 2012. Switzerland has accepted the invitation that it officially received from South Korea in a diplomatic note dated 3 February 2009.

Switzerland welcomes the adoption of a programme of work at the Geneva Disarmament Conference (last modification, the 04.06.2009)

04.06.2009 — Press releases EDA
The 65 members of the Geneva Disarmament Conference (CD) today adopted a programme of work by consensus. Switzerland welcomes this development, which is important for Geneva's role as a venue for international disarmament negotiations.

The FDFA strongly condemns the probable killing of the British hostage in Mali

03.06.2009 — Press releases EDA
With deep dismay, grief and outrage the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) has learned of the probable killing of the British hostage who has been in captivity in Mali since 22 January 2009. The FDFA continues to focus all its efforts on the release of the remaining hostage, a Swiss citizen.

Visit to Libya by Federal Councillor Calmy-Rey

29.05.2009 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), visited Libya from 27 to 29 May 2009. The main purpose of this visit was to meet the two Swiss citizens who have been detained in Libya for 300 days and are not permitted to leave the country. Mrs Calmy-Rey was accompanied on her visit by the wives of the two detained Swiss citizens and by a doctor.

Switzerland condemns the nuclear test carried out by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea)

27.05.2009 — Press releases EDA
North Korea has announced that it carried out a new underground nuclear test on 25 May 2009. Switzerland condemns the test as a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, as a threat to peace and security in the region, and as an affront to the efforts of the international community to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Inauguration of a bilateral political dialogue Switzerland - Japan

26.05.2009 — Press releases EDA
Today, Tuesday 26 May 2009, an official meeting took place in Bern between the Japanese Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kenichiro SASAE and the State Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Michael Ambühl.

Switzerland calls on the parties in Sri Lanka to engage in political dialogue

19.05.2009 — Press releases EDA
The Swiss government welcomes the end of the armed conflict in the north of Sri Lanka. Switzerland deeply regrets that this conflict which has lasted for decades has caused countless deaths and that tens of thousands of internally displaced persons have been deprived of their livelihoods.

Switzerland appeals to release all Political Prisoners in Myanmar

15.05.2009 — Press releases EDA
The Swiss government is concerned about reports of deterioration in the state of health of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her transfer to a prison. The Swiss Government appeals to the Government of Myanmar to release immediately and unconditionally all political prisoners in the country, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Reception of the Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko in Bern

14.05.2009 — Press releases EDA
Today President Merz received the Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko on a visit to Bern. Along with bilateral relations, topics of discussion focussed on the European policies of both countries, the impact of the financial crisis on Switzerland and the Ukraine and multilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Talks of Swiss Foreign Minister in Stockholm

13.05.2009 — Press releases EDA
The Head of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey, participated in talks in Stockholm on 13 May to which her Swedish counterpart Carl Bildt had invited a number of representatives of European states that do not belong to the European Union.

Federal Council takes decision to sign amended Agreement on the Carriage of Goods between Switzerland and the EU

13.05.2009 — Press releases EDA
The Federal Council has approved the changes in the international movement of goods and has taken the decision to sign the amended Agreement on the Carriage of Goods between Switzerland and the EU. The amendments are based on the new EU security requirements for the international movement of goods. After the signing, parliament will take the decision on approving the revised agreement. Subject to the approval of the committees in charge, it should be implemented provisionally from 1 July 2009.

Council of Europe ministers’ meeting in Madrid

11.05.2009 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey will travel to Madrid on 11-12 May 2009 to attend the Committee of Ministers meeting of the Council of Europe. The event will enable Switzerland to prepare its presidency of the Council of Europe, which begins on 18 November 2009 and will end in mid-May 2010.

Media (3498)

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.

Switzerland to host a global summit on artificial intelligence in 2027

25.06.2025 — Press releases EDA
On 25 June 2025, the Federal Council expressed its intention to host an artificial intelligence (AI) summit in Geneva in 2027.

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.

Earthquake simulation exercise: 12 countries train in Kriens to save lives

25.06.2025 — Press releases EDA
The earthquakes in Myanmar in April 2025 and in Turkey in February 2023 claimed countless lives. Internationally deployable rescue teams provide vital assistance in such emergencies, and regular training is key to ensuring the efficiency of their operations. To that end Switzerland is conducting the international earthquake simulation exercise ‘SIMEX25’ in Kriens (canton of Lucerne) from 23 to 27 June. Rescue teams from 12 countries are taking part.

FDFA State Secretary Alexandre Fasel holds political consultations in France

25.06.2025 — Press releases EDA
FDFA State Secretary Alexandre Fasel was in Paris on 25 June 2025 for political consultations. In addition to bilateral topics and cross-border issues, the talks at France's Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs centred on current geopolitical developments and the opening of the consultation procedure in Switzerland on the agreements in the new Swiss–EU package to stabilise and develop relations.

Switzerland and EU regulate cooperation during ratification phase of package

24.06.2025 — Press releases EDA
On 24 June 2025, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis and EU Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič will sign a joint declaration in Brussels. It sets out arrangements for cooperation between Switzerland and the EU from the end of 2024 until the entry into force of the Swiss–EU package. At its meeting on 13 June 2025, the Federal Council approved the agreements, protocols and statements for the new package to stabilise and further develop Switzerland's bilateral approach with the EU and opened the domestic consultation process.

New Swiss ambassadors

20.06.2025 — Press releases EDA
Personnel changes and the conferment of ambassadorial titles will take place in 2025 at several Swiss representations and at the head office of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) as part of the FDFA's periodic transfer rotation and on the basis of appointments made by the Federal Council.

The Federal Council is investing a quarter of a billion Swiss francs to strengthen International Geneva

20.06.2025 — Press releases EDA
At its meeting on 20 June 2025, the Federal Council allocated CHF 269 million to International Geneva. It approved an urgent package of measures and a new dispatch on Switzerland as a host state for the period 2026–29. It is thus reaffirming the central role of International Geneva in Swiss foreign policy and its unique place in global governance. The measures are a response to the financial difficulties faced by international organisations and the increasing competition between states to host them. For comparison, the FDFA's contribution to International Geneva over the last four years amounted to almost CHF 2 billion.

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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