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Implementation of foreign policy strategy: Federal Councillor Burkhalter travels to Turkey, Lebanon and South America

19.05.2016 — Press releases EDA
On 23 and 24 May 2016, the Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, will attend the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul and travel on to Lebanon to visit projects supported by Switzerland to provide Syrian refugees with concrete help. On 26 and 27 May, Mr Burkhalter will travel to Argentina and Uruguay for bilateral talks and will meet the descendants of Swiss emigrants in Nueva Helvecia in Uruguay.



Engagement in fragile states: Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter calls for sustainable measures to eliminate the root causes of conflicts

At the Meeting of the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (IDPS), Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter calls for sustained measures to eliminate the root causes of conflicts.

05.04.2016 — Press releases EDA
At the 5th Global Meeting of the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (IDPS) in Stockholm, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter stressed that a long-term commitment by all the actors is the only way to eliminate the causes of fragility and violent conflict. The participants at the meeting agreed to continue the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States, a reform agenda designed to promote both peacebuilding and the development of state structures and institutions. Switzerland is already strongly committed in fragile contexts and is going to expand its aid programmes in line with the Federal Council's Dispatch on International Cooperation 2017-2020. The aim is also to prevent young people in particular from succumbing to the temptations of violent extremism.



Official meeting between Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter and Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni in Bern

28.05.2015 — Press releases EDA
Didier Burkhalter, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, received Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni for official talks in Bern today, and praised the excellent relations between the two countries. Among the topics discussed by Mr Burkhalter and Mr Gentiloni were Expo Milano 2015, the opening of the Gotthard base tunnel in 2016 and the significance of the New Transalpine Rail Link, progress made on fiscal and financial matters, and Switzerland's policy on the EU. The two ministers also discussed international matters, specifically migration policy and the situation in North Africa and the Middle East.


Official working visit of Angolan Foreign Minister Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti to Bern

22.05.2015 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), received Angola’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti, for an official working visit at the Von Wattenwyl House in Bern on Tuesday, 26 May 2015. Talks between the two foreign ministers centred on the bilateral political and economic relations between their two countries. They also exchanged views on cooperation at the multilateral level and discussed current world affairs.



Fresh impetus in bilateral relationship: Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter holds political talks in Sri Lanka (last modification, the 17.03.2015)

17.03.2015 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter has held talks with representatives of the new government and of the Tamil population in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo. The talks focused on the national reconciliation process and dealing with the past as well as on ways in which bilateral cooperation can be stepped up in areas such as the economy.




Controlling immigration: Federal Council approves draft legislation and negotiating mandate

11.02.2015 — Press releases EDA
On 9 February 2014, Swiss citizens voted for Switzerland to control and restrict immigration autonomously and at the same time for an amendment to the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons with the European Union (EU), while safeguarding Switzerland’s overall economic interests. On Wednesday, the Federal Council took various decisions on the implementation of the new constitutional provisions. It approved the draft of the new legislation on foreign nationals and additional measures to make better use of the potential workforce within Switzerland. It also made a final decision on the negotiating mandate with the EU on the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons.


Expat Swiss community continues to grow

Image of people celebrating the Swiss national holiday abroad

29.01.2015 — Press releases EDA
More and more Swiss nationals are choosing to live abroad. In 2014, the number increased by 14,726 on the previous year to a total of 746,885 people, an increase of around 2%. These are the most recent statistics from the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) on the expatriate Swiss community. The figures – published annually – include all Swiss nationals registered at an embassy or consulate general. There are Swiss expats living in 200 different countries and regions around the world.

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Last update 19.07.2023

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