Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), who was attending the Fifth Global Meeting of the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding in Stockholm today, took the opportunity to meet the Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström for bilateral talks. Switzerland's policy towards the EU was one topic of the meeting, in particular implementation of the new article in the Federal Constitution on immigration. Mr Burkhalter stressed that Switzerland wanted to reach a mutually agreed solution with the EU by this summer.
Mr Burkhalter and Ms Wallström also discussed a number of bilateral issues. Sweden is Switzerland's largest Nordic trading partner with a trade volume of CHF 3.1 billion (2014). Swiss companies employ almost 18,000 people in Sweden. In addition, Switzerland and Sweden cooperate closely on consular matters. The last meeting between Mr Burkhalter and Ms Wallström took place on 15 September 2015 in Stockholm. The head of the FDFA took the opportunity of today's meeting to invite the Swedish Foreign Minister to Switzerland.
Further information:
Bilateral relations between Switzerland and Sweden
Address for enquiries:
Information FDFA
Bundeshaus West
CH-3003 Bern
Tel.: +41 58 462 31 53
Fax: +41 58 464 90 47
E-Mail: info@eda.admin.ch
