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.
15.10.2025
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Press releases
EDA
At its meeting on 15 October 2025, the Federal Council discussed measures to strengthen the involvement of the cantons and Parliament in Switzerland's foreign policy on the Swiss–EU package. Next steps for concluding an arrangement with the cantons and expanding information mechanisms for the parliamentary committees were also set out. These proposals will be included in the Federal Council dispatch expected to be submitted to Parliament in March 2026.
15.10.2025
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Press releases
EDA
As part of the FDFA's periodic transfer rotation and on the basis of appointments made by the Federal Council, personnel changes and the conferment of ambassadorial titles will take place in 2025 and 2026 at several Swiss representations and at the head office of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA).
14.10.2025
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Press releases
EDA
From 15 to 17 October 2025, the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA) summit will bring together around a thousand researchers, diplomats, ministers, representatives of the private sector and philanthropists to discuss the challenges posed by new technologies and their impact on people's lives. In his speech, the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs will highlight the work that science and diplomacy do together in facilitating discussions between states when they need to define rules for the use of new technologies. These types of negotiations often take place in Geneva.
10.10.2025
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Press releases
EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the FDFA, today welcomed the foreign minister of the People's Republic of China, Wang Yi, to Bellinzona for the fourth round of Switzerland and China's strategic dialogue. The meeting also coincided with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
10.10.2025
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Press releases
EDA
The Assembly of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has chosen Ambassador Jürg Lauber to succeed Gilles Carbonnier as Vice-President of the institution, who will end his second four-year term on 31 March 2026. Currently Switzerland's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other international organisations in Geneva, Jürg Lauber is also this year the President of the UN Human Rights Council.
09.10.2025
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Press releases
EDA
On 9 October 2025, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the FDFA, met with his Portuguese counterpart Paulo Rangel for official talks in Lisbon. The meeting provided an opportunity to highlight the close and strong ties between Switzerland and Portugal, which are strengthened in particular by the large Portuguese community living in Switzerland. Current geopolitical issues were also discussed.
08.10.2025
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Press releases
EDA
The UN Human Rights Council has adopted, by a large majority, a resolution put forward by Switzerland and seven other countries to ensure that those facing the death penalty have the right to equality before the law. This success represents a further step on the way to abolishing capital punishment. The 60th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) ended today following a month's work. This was also the final session chaired by Swiss diplomat Jürg Lauber.
02.10.2025
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Press releases
EDA
On Thursday, 2 October, the president of the Swiss Confederation, Karin Keller-Sutter, attended the European Political Community (EPC) summit meeting in Copenhagen. Ahead of Cyprus's presidency of the Council of the EU over the next six-month term, Ms Keller-Sutter took the opportunity to hold an in-depth discussion with the president of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, on the sidelines of the meeting of European heads of state and government.
29.09.2025
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Press releases
EDA
Switzerland and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea signed an agreement today on the restitution of CHF 22.8 million to Equatorial Guinea. The funds will be used to finance a project aimed at improving the quality of and access to primary healthcare services for vulnerable peoples in four of the Central African country's provinces. The funds returned will therefore benefit the country's population.
25.09.2025
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Press releases
EDA
During the high-level week of the 80th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, the FDFA highlighted its priorities: promoting peace, respecting international humanitarian law and strengthening multilateral cooperation. Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the FDFA, took part in several conferences and bilateral meetings, addressing topics such as Switzerland's future OSCE chairpersonship in 2026, Russia's war against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and the protection of civilians in armed conflicts.
24.09.2025
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Press releases
EDA
At the opening of the General Debate at the UN in New York on Wednesday, 24 September, President Karin Keller-Sutter cited security and freedom as key values in marking the start of another new era 80 years after the founding of the UN. She also reaffirmed Switzerland's support for the UN's reform efforts.
23.09.2025
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Press releases
EDA
Conformément aux efforts déployés depuis longtemps par la Suisse en faveur d'une solution politique au conflit au Proche-Orient, le conseiller fédéral Ignazio Cassis a participé à New York à la conférence sur la solution à deux États. Cette conférence est une reprise de la réunion de haut-niveau tenue au mois de juillet dans le cadre de l’Assemblée générale de l’ONU sur le même sujet. En outre, la Suisse s’est jointe à une déclaration commune de plusieurs Etats pour demander à Israël de lever les restrictions sur les médicaments et les équipements médicaux, et de rouvrir le corridor d’évacuation médicale de Gaza vers la Cisjordanie, y compris Jérusalem-Est.
15.10.2025 —
Press releases
EDA
At its meeting on 15 October 2025, the Federal Council discussed measures to strengthen the involvement of the cantons and Parliament in Switzerland's foreign policy on the Swiss–EU package. Next steps for concluding an arrangement with the cantons and expanding information mechanisms for the parliamentary committees were also set out. These proposals will be included in the Federal Council dispatch expected to be submitted to Parliament in March 2026.
15.10.2025 —
Press releases
EDA
As part of the FDFA's periodic transfer rotation and on the basis of appointments made by the Federal Council, personnel changes and the conferment of ambassadorial titles will take place in 2025 and 2026 at several Swiss representations and at the head office of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA).
14.10.2025 —
Press releases
EDA
From 15 to 17 October 2025, the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA) summit will bring together around a thousand researchers, diplomats, ministers, representatives of the private sector and philanthropists to discuss the challenges posed by new technologies and their impact on people's lives. In his speech, the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs will highlight the work that science and diplomacy do together in facilitating discussions between states when they need to define rules for the use of new technologies. These types of negotiations often take place in Geneva.
10.10.2025 —
Press releases
EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the FDFA, today welcomed the foreign minister of the People's Republic of China, Wang Yi, to Bellinzona for the fourth round of Switzerland and China's strategic dialogue. The meeting also coincided with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
10.10.2025 —
Press releases
EDA
The Assembly of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has chosen Ambassador Jürg Lauber to succeed Gilles Carbonnier as Vice-President of the institution, who will end his second four-year term on 31 March 2026. Currently Switzerland's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other international organisations in Geneva, Jürg Lauber is also this year the President of the UN Human Rights Council.
09.10.2025 —
Press releases
EDA
On 9 October 2025, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the FDFA, met with his Portuguese counterpart Paulo Rangel for official talks in Lisbon. The meeting provided an opportunity to highlight the close and strong ties between Switzerland and Portugal, which are strengthened in particular by the large Portuguese community living in Switzerland. Current geopolitical issues were also discussed.
08.10.2025 —
Press releases
EDA
The UN Human Rights Council has adopted, by a large majority, a resolution put forward by Switzerland and seven other countries to ensure that those facing the death penalty have the right to equality before the law. This success represents a further step on the way to abolishing capital punishment. The 60th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) ended today following a month's work. This was also the final session chaired by Swiss diplomat Jürg Lauber.
02.10.2025 —
Press releases
EDA
On Thursday, 2 October, the president of the Swiss Confederation, Karin Keller-Sutter, attended the European Political Community (EPC) summit meeting in Copenhagen. Ahead of Cyprus's presidency of the Council of the EU over the next six-month term, Ms Keller-Sutter took the opportunity to hold an in-depth discussion with the president of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, on the sidelines of the meeting of European heads of state and government.
29.09.2025 —
Press releases
EDA
Switzerland and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea signed an agreement today on the restitution of CHF 22.8 million to Equatorial Guinea. The funds will be used to finance a project aimed at improving the quality of and access to primary healthcare services for vulnerable peoples in four of the Central African country's provinces. The funds returned will therefore benefit the country's population.
25.09.2025 —
Press releases
EDA
During the high-level week of the 80th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, the FDFA highlighted its priorities: promoting peace, respecting international humanitarian law and strengthening multilateral cooperation. Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the FDFA, took part in several conferences and bilateral meetings, addressing topics such as Switzerland's future OSCE chairpersonship in 2026, Russia's war against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and the protection of civilians in armed conflicts.
24.09.2025 —
Press releases
EDA
At the opening of the General Debate at the UN in New York on Wednesday, 24 September, President Karin Keller-Sutter cited security and freedom as key values in marking the start of another new era 80 years after the founding of the UN. She also reaffirmed Switzerland's support for the UN's reform efforts.
23.09.2025 —
Press releases
EDA
Conformément aux efforts déployés depuis longtemps par la Suisse en faveur d'une solution politique au conflit au Proche-Orient, le conseiller fédéral Ignazio Cassis a participé à New York à la conférence sur la solution à deux États. Cette conférence est une reprise de la réunion de haut-niveau tenue au mois de juillet dans le cadre de l’Assemblée générale de l’ONU sur le même sujet. En outre, la Suisse s’est jointe à une déclaration commune de plusieurs Etats pour demander à Israël de lever les restrictions sur les médicaments et les équipements médicaux, et de rouvrir le corridor d’évacuation médicale de Gaza vers la Cisjordanie, y compris Jérusalem-Est.
19.09.2019 —
EDA
Slovenian President Borut Pahor paid an official visit to Switzerland on Thursday, 19 September. President Ueli Maurer and Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis received the Slovenian delegation at the Lohn country residence. Both sides stressed the strong ties between the two countries and the dynamic state of relations.
16.09.2019 —
EDA
Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis, President of the Geneva State Council Antonio Hodgers and Administrative Councillor of the City of Geneva Sami Kanaan have signed a joint declaration underscoring the key role played by International Geneva in addressing future challenges. The joint declaration pays tribute to 100 years of multilateralism and reaffirms the commitment of the Swiss government and the Canton and City of Geneva to International Geneva's role as a centre of global governance. The signing ceremony was followed by the presentation of a volume of key Swiss diplomatic documents going back to the establishment of the League of Nations a century ago.
13.09.2019 —
EDA
On the afternoon of Friday, 13 September, the Federal Council, led by President Ueli Maurer, welcomed Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and his wife, Savita Kovind, to Bern with military honours to mark the state visit to Switzerland. During the official talks that followed, discussions focused on bilateral relations, in particular the opportunities presented by a free trade agreement, and cooperation on environmental matters. Further topics addressed included global issues and India’s regional situation.
13.09.2019 —
EDA
Climate change, land degradation and water scarcity increasingly affect agricultural production and food supply. Around 820 million people around the world suffer from hunger and malnutrition. The Federal Council decided at its meeting on 13 September 2019 to contribute CHF 33.1 million for the period 2020–21 to the CGIAR, previously known as the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research. Through this contribution, as well as through its strong scientific expertise and the work of its universities, Switzerland is playing its part in efforts to find innovative solutions for high-quality food and sustainable natural resource management.
13.09.2019 —
EDA
Switzerland is extending its humanitarian aid to the Bahamas. Around 70,000 people in the Caribbean island nation are now dependent on aid in the wake of Hurricane Dorian, which caused extensive damage and many deaths at the start of September. Five experts from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) were deployed to the affected area on 13 September. Relief supplies in the form of a drinking water system arrived in the Bahamas the day before.
13.09.2019 —
EDA
Switzerland adopted its priorities for the 74th UN General Assembly. The Federal Council was informed, at its meeting on 13 September 2019, of the result of the consultations with the Foreign Affairs Committees. The priorities concern the protection of human rights, support for the UN reform processes, and the promotion of science diplomacy. Switzerland will be represented at the high-level opening of the UN General Assembly at the end of September by President of the Confederation Ueli Maurer and Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis.
12.09.2019 —
EDA
Bern, 12.09.2019 - Speech by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis on the occasion of the Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentance and Prayer - Check against delivery
09.09.2019 —
EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis received the Graubünden cantonal government for talks in Bern on 9 September 2019. The meeting, which focused on the institutional agreement with the European Union (EU) and the promotion of Switzerland's minority languages, was part of ongoing efforts by Mr Cassis to engage in structured political dialogue with the cantonal governments of Graubünden and Ticino.
06.09.2019 —
EDA
Bilateral relations between Switzerland and India are close and have long been characterised by high mutual esteem. The state visit by President Ram Nath Kovind to Switzerland this year continues the series of regular contacts between the two countries. The Federal Council, led by President Ueli Maurer, will receive the head of state of the Republic of India in Bern with military honours on the afternoon of Friday, 13 September.
05.09.2019 —
EDA
Andermatt, 05.09.2019 – Address by the Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis at the third OSCE International Parliamentary Conference - Check against delivery