Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis receives North Macedonian Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani

Switzerland and the Republic of North Macedonia maintain good bilateral relations with a focus on international cooperation. The talks in Bern between Mr Cassis and his counterpart Mr Osmani focused not only on the government of North Macedonia’s progressive reform plans but also on the country's prospects in the EU accession process, and its future chairmanship of the OSCE.

New cooperation programme
Switzerland will continue to support North Macedonia in its implementation of reforms in the areas of governance and economic development within the framework of a new cooperation programme of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The cooperation programme for North Macedonia 2021–24 is in line with the current objectives of Swiss foreign policy and the International Cooperation Strategy 2021–24 derived from it. The programme will be presented shortly and will include a continuation of previous priorities in the areas of democratic governance, sustainable economic development and environmental protection. In addition, Switzerland will focus on digitalisation and cooperation with the private sector in the region.

 
Switzerland's engagement in the Western Balkans
Stability and economic development in the Western Balkans are of great importance to Switzerland. About 500,000 people with roots in the region live in Switzerland.

Further information:

North Macedonia, SDC
Swiss foreign policy: strategies and key aspects

Address for enquiries:

FDFA Communication
Federal Palace West Wing
CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
Tel. Communication service: +41 58 462 31 53
Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55
E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch
Twitter: @SwissMFA

Publisher:

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs