SDC commitment to gender equality proves effective

10.08.2018 — Media release EDA
Better gender equality promotes sustainable development and economic growth and helps reduce poverty. This is why the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) systematically promotes gender equality, women's rights and the empowerment of women and girls in its partner countries. As shown in two studies commissioned by the SDC, this is having a positive impact: violence against women in a number of areas has gone down, while their economic and political status has been strengthened.

Ignazio Cassis meets with his Indian counterpart, marking 70 years of friendship between Switzerland and India

10.08.2018 — Media release EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis met with India's Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj, in New Delhi on Friday for political talks on Swiss-Indian relations with a view to strengthening bilateral ties in their mutual interest. On Friday evening, the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) presided over a ceremony to mark 70 years of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and India.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis on official visit to India to mark 70 years of diplomatic relations

07.08.2018 — Media release EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, will visit India from 9 to 12 August for an official visit to celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations with this major partner country, as well as Switzerland's national day with the Swiss community in India. Mr Cassis will also hold political discussions with his counterpart, Sushma Swaraj, and other Indian officials and will also gain insights into India's ethnic, religious and cultural diversity.

Switzerland and Sri Lanka establish a migration partnership

06.08.2018 — Media release EDA
On 6 August, Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Colombo with Sri Lankan Interior Minister Seneviratne Bandara Nawinne with a view to establishing a migration partnership. By signing this MoU, Switzerland and Sri Lanka are reaffirming their intention to continue to facilitate and expand cooperation between the two countries. Switzerland has already established migration partnerships with five other countries. The agreement with Sri Lanka is the first concluded with an Asian country.

Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga's Four-Day Working Visit to Sri Lanka

05.08.2018 — Media release EDA
Swiss Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga, head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP), is traveling to Sri Lanka for a four-day working visit to intensify cooperation between the two countries. She is keen to see for herself Switzerland’s activities in various areas such as reconciliation, dealing with the past and strengthening of the rule of law in the country. Also on the agenda are the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of a migration partnership and various meetings with government and civil society representatives.

Locarno International Film Festival marks end of FDFA Democracy Without Borders initiative

03.08.2018 — Media release EDA
Four years after its launch at the Locarno International Film Festival, the FDFA's Democracy Without Borders initiative will be concluded on Sunday 5 August 2018 in Locarno. An array of Swiss celebrities contributed to the initiative by raising public awareness of Swiss development cooperation issues and projects. The Afghan film 'Laila at the Bridge' will be screened to mark the occasion, followed by a panel discussion on civil society participation, film-making and freedom of expression in Afghanistan, a partner country for the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The event will be introduced by Marco Solari, president of the Locarno International Film Festival and project president of Democracy Without Borders, and Pio Wennubst, assistant director general of the SDC.

Swiss Military Small Band plays in New Zealand, Australia and India

25.07.2018 — Media release EDA
Switzerland's National Day will be celebrated by Swiss nationals living all over the world. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA and the Chief of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Philippe Rebord, have arranged for an ensemble of 17 musicians from the Swiss Military Band to provide the musical accompaniment to the festivities at Swiss embassies and missions in Auckland and Wellington (New Zealand), Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne (Australia), and Delhi and Mumbai (India).

Informal talks between Federal Councillor Cassis and EU Commissioner Hahn

23.07.2018 — Media release EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis met with EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn, who is in charge of relations with Switzerland at the EU Commission, for talks in Lugano on 23 July.

Bundesrätin Doris Leuthard zieht eine positive Bilanz über die Fortschritte der Schweiz bei der Umsetzung der Agenda 2030 für nachhaltige Entwicklung

17.07.2018 — Media release EDA
Bundesrätin Doris Leuthard nahm am 16. und 17. Juli am Hochrangigen Politischen Forum für Nachhaltige Entwicklung (High-Level Political Forum for Sustainable Development HLPF) an der UNO in New York teil. Vor der versammelten Staatengemeinschaft und zahlreichen nichtstaatlichen Akteuren präsentierte sie am 17. Juli den ersten Schweizer Bericht über die Umsetzung der Agenda 2030 und deren 17 Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung (Sustainable Development Goals SDGs).

Negotiations on framework for global coordination of migration successfully completed

13.07.2018 — Media release EDA
Switzerland welcomes the approval by UN member states of the draft 'Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration'. The conclusion of the negotiations is an important step towards common standards among states to boost the positive aspects of migration and to contain the negative aspects through joint efforts. Switzerland and Mexico led the negotiation process, which has now been successfully concluded.

2030 Agenda in Switzerland: an initial assessment using 85 sustainable development indicators

10.07.2018 — Media release EDA
(FSO) – The monitoring of 2030 Agenda in Switzerland expresses contrasting and somewhat contradictory trends with regard to the goals pursued. Thirty nine indicators show a development in line with expectations, fourteen show a reverse trend while twelve do not show any marked change. These are the findings of the monitoring system published for the first time by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

Switzerland and Kenya stress interest in closer cooperation

09.07.2018 — Media release EDA
Switzerland and Kenya wish to deepen their relations. President Alain Berset and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta acknowledged the significant potential for closer cooperation during their official talks in Nairobi on Monday, 9 July. They discussed efforts to fight corruption as well as healthcare and international affairs. A declaration of intent on the return of illegally acquired funds was signed in the presence of the two presidents.

SDC commitment to gender equality proves effective

10.08.2018 — Media release EDA
Better gender equality promotes sustainable development and economic growth and helps reduce poverty. This is why the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) systematically promotes gender equality, women's rights and the empowerment of women and girls in its partner countries. As shown in two studies commissioned by the SDC, this is having a positive impact: violence against women in a number of areas has gone down, while their economic and political status has been strengthened.

Ignazio Cassis meets with his Indian counterpart, marking 70 years of friendship between Switzerland and India

10.08.2018 — Media release EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis met with India's Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj, in New Delhi on Friday for political talks on Swiss-Indian relations with a view to strengthening bilateral ties in their mutual interest. On Friday evening, the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) presided over a ceremony to mark 70 years of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and India.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis on official visit to India to mark 70 years of diplomatic relations

07.08.2018 — Media release EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, will visit India from 9 to 12 August for an official visit to celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations with this major partner country, as well as Switzerland's national day with the Swiss community in India. Mr Cassis will also hold political discussions with his counterpart, Sushma Swaraj, and other Indian officials and will also gain insights into India's ethnic, religious and cultural diversity.

Switzerland and Sri Lanka establish a migration partnership

06.08.2018 — Media release EDA
On 6 August, Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Colombo with Sri Lankan Interior Minister Seneviratne Bandara Nawinne with a view to establishing a migration partnership. By signing this MoU, Switzerland and Sri Lanka are reaffirming their intention to continue to facilitate and expand cooperation between the two countries. Switzerland has already established migration partnerships with five other countries. The agreement with Sri Lanka is the first concluded with an Asian country.

Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga's Four-Day Working Visit to Sri Lanka

05.08.2018 — Media release EDA
Swiss Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga, head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP), is traveling to Sri Lanka for a four-day working visit to intensify cooperation between the two countries. She is keen to see for herself Switzerland’s activities in various areas such as reconciliation, dealing with the past and strengthening of the rule of law in the country. Also on the agenda are the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of a migration partnership and various meetings with government and civil society representatives.

Locarno International Film Festival marks end of FDFA Democracy Without Borders initiative

03.08.2018 — Media release EDA
Four years after its launch at the Locarno International Film Festival, the FDFA's Democracy Without Borders initiative will be concluded on Sunday 5 August 2018 in Locarno. An array of Swiss celebrities contributed to the initiative by raising public awareness of Swiss development cooperation issues and projects. The Afghan film 'Laila at the Bridge' will be screened to mark the occasion, followed by a panel discussion on civil society participation, film-making and freedom of expression in Afghanistan, a partner country for the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The event will be introduced by Marco Solari, president of the Locarno International Film Festival and project president of Democracy Without Borders, and Pio Wennubst, assistant director general of the SDC.

Swiss Military Small Band plays in New Zealand, Australia and India

25.07.2018 — Media release EDA
Switzerland's National Day will be celebrated by Swiss nationals living all over the world. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA and the Chief of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Philippe Rebord, have arranged for an ensemble of 17 musicians from the Swiss Military Band to provide the musical accompaniment to the festivities at Swiss embassies and missions in Auckland and Wellington (New Zealand), Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne (Australia), and Delhi and Mumbai (India).

Informal talks between Federal Councillor Cassis and EU Commissioner Hahn

23.07.2018 — Media release EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis met with EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn, who is in charge of relations with Switzerland at the EU Commission, for talks in Lugano on 23 July.

Bundesrätin Doris Leuthard zieht eine positive Bilanz über die Fortschritte der Schweiz bei der Umsetzung der Agenda 2030 für nachhaltige Entwicklung

17.07.2018 — Media release EDA
Bundesrätin Doris Leuthard nahm am 16. und 17. Juli am Hochrangigen Politischen Forum für Nachhaltige Entwicklung (High-Level Political Forum for Sustainable Development HLPF) an der UNO in New York teil. Vor der versammelten Staatengemeinschaft und zahlreichen nichtstaatlichen Akteuren präsentierte sie am 17. Juli den ersten Schweizer Bericht über die Umsetzung der Agenda 2030 und deren 17 Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung (Sustainable Development Goals SDGs).

Negotiations on framework for global coordination of migration successfully completed

13.07.2018 — Media release EDA
Switzerland welcomes the approval by UN member states of the draft 'Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration'. The conclusion of the negotiations is an important step towards common standards among states to boost the positive aspects of migration and to contain the negative aspects through joint efforts. Switzerland and Mexico led the negotiation process, which has now been successfully concluded.

2030 Agenda in Switzerland: an initial assessment using 85 sustainable development indicators

10.07.2018 — Media release EDA
(FSO) – The monitoring of 2030 Agenda in Switzerland expresses contrasting and somewhat contradictory trends with regard to the goals pursued. Thirty nine indicators show a development in line with expectations, fourteen show a reverse trend while twelve do not show any marked change. These are the findings of the monitoring system published for the first time by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

Switzerland and Kenya stress interest in closer cooperation

09.07.2018 — Media release EDA
Switzerland and Kenya wish to deepen their relations. President Alain Berset and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta acknowledged the significant potential for closer cooperation during their official talks in Nairobi on Monday, 9 July. They discussed efforts to fight corruption as well as healthcare and international affairs. A declaration of intent on the return of illegally acquired funds was signed in the presence of the two presidents.

Christine Schraner Burgener appointed UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Myanmar

26.04.2018 — EDA
The FDFA welcomes the UN Secretary-General's decision to appoint Ambassador Christine Schraner Burgener as his special envoy for Myanmar. This is further proof of the excellence of Swiss diplomacy.

Programme of members of the Federal Council attending the WEF Annual Meeting 2018

24.01.2018 — Article EDA
Bern, 24.01.2018 – The Federal Council continues to hold the view that the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting is of great importance. Five Federal Council members will be attending the event this year; around 60 bilateral meetings are expected to take place. President Alain Berset will be holding meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump. Arrangements for further meetings, such as with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, are still under discussion, as are details of the meeting with President Trump.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis attends 2018 New Year’s reception

17.01.2018 — Article EDA

The New Year's reception of President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset takes place in Bern on Wednesday, 17 January 2018.

Internet Governance Forum 2017, Geneva

29.12.2017 — Article EDA

The Internet Governance Forum is a global, multilateral platform for discussing public policy aspects of the internet.

The conference in December 2017 in Geneva was organised by the UN and Switzerland. This year’s theme was "Shape Your Digital Future".

Good neighbours: Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis meets Liechtenstein's Foreign Minister Aurelia Frick for bilateral talks

21.12.2017 — EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis has met with Aurelia Frick, the foreign minister of the Principality of Liechtenstein, in Bern. The discussion between the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA and his Liechtenstein counterpart underscored the high quality of bilateral relations between the two states. The meeting covered bilateral topics including current European policy issues and international challenges.

Switzerland and France give go-ahead to implementation of EuroAirport agreement

19.12.2017 — EDA
At their first meeting, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian brought the issue of the tax regime at Basel-Mulhouse (EuroAirport) to a conclusion: the agreement regulating Swiss companies operating at EuroAirport will be applicable from next year. The two foreign ministers' working meeting also focused on other bilateral issues, the situation in Europe and Switzerland's policy with regard to the EU.

Restitution of USD 321 million by Switzerland to Nigeria under World Bank oversight: signing of a tripartite agreement

04.12.2017 — EDA
In keeping with its policy of returning illegally acquired assets, Switzerland has reached an agreement with Nigeria and the World Bank on the restitution of approximately USD 321 million to Nigeria's population. The modalities of restitution are set out in an agreement which was signed by the three parties on 4 December in Washington D.C. at the Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR).

The translation of Memoirs of Holocaust survivors into French is accomplished

27.11.2017 — Article EDA

On the occasion of the second plenary meeting under Swiss chairmanship of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) on 27^th November 2017, the translation of all the 15 memoirs of Holocaust survivors into French has been completed.

«Mit vereinten Kräften gegen das Leid in der Welt»

19.08.2017 — Article EDA

Beitrag von Bundesrat Didier Burkhalter zum Welttag der Humanitären Hilfe am 19. August 2017.

Swiss school students grapple with the memory of the Holocaust

14.07.2017 — Article EDA

In order to approach the difficult subject of the Holocaust, school teachers from Biel and Geneva asked their students to translate several notebook memoirs written by survivors. We met the students from Biel and Geneva and asked them what they took away from this experience.

Students from the French-speaking part of Switzerland translate Memoirs of Holocaust survivors

26.06.2017 — Article EDA

On the occasion of the first plenary meeting under Swiss chairmanship of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance on 26^th June in Geneva, students from Geneva and Bienne present the outcome of their work. They worked for many months to translate the Memoirs of the Holocaust survivors who live in Switzerland.

Promoting democracy in developing countries: a futile effort?

11.05.2017 — Article DEZA

An event on the topic of ‘Promoting Democracy in Developing Countries: an Exercise in Futility?’ was held at the University of Zurich on 11 May 2017 as part of the FDFA’s Democracy without Borders initiative launched by Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter. The event, organised together with NCCR Democracy, sparked much interest. A talk by Ambassador Thomas Greminger was followed by a discussion with panellists from the academic community, NGOs and think tanks.