Press releases

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Earthquake in Haiti: Switzerland Sends 18 Member Emergency Team

13.01.2010 — Press releases EDA
Switzerland has decided to deploy immediately to Haiti an emergency rapid deployment team of 18 persons. Humanitarian aid shipments are also in preparation.

New Year’s reception for the diplomatic corps

13.01.2010 — Press releases EDA
President Doris Leuthard today greeted representatives of the diplomatic corps in Switzerland at the traditional New Year’s reception at the Federal Palace.

Federal Councillor Calmy-Rey pays working visits to Ljubljana, Tiflis and Moskau

12.01.2010 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor and head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Micheline Calmy-Rey will travel to Ljubljana on Friday for a bilateral meeting with the Slovenian Foreign Minister Samuel Zbogar. On Saturday and Sunday she will hold talks in Tiflis in her capacity as president of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. She will have a working meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Sunday.

Success for Switzerland in the UN Security Council

17.12.2009 — Press releases EDA
On 17 December 2009, the United Nations Security Council decided to create the Office of an Ombudsperson as a contact point for persons affected by the anti-terror sanctions of the UN Security Council. This decision is largely to be attributed to an initiative by Switzerland, which for several years has demanded improved rights for persons affected by these sanctions.

Former Federal Councillor Joseph Deiss named official candidate for the presidency of the United Nations General Assembly

15.12.2009 — Press releases EDA
The western regional group within the United Nations agreed yesterday to name former Federal Councillor Joseph Deiss as its official candidate for the office of president of the 65th General Assembly. The proposal of the western regional group must still be confirmed by the General Assembly.

Official working visit by the Georgian Foreign Minister, Grigol Vashadze, to Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey

14.12.2009 — Press releases EDA
On 14 December 2009, Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), received the Georgian Foreign Minister, Grigol Vashadze, for an official working visit in Von-Wattenwyl-Haus in Bern. The talks covered among other matters bilateral relations and the situation in Georgia.

Federal Council requests approval of the EU agreement on easing customs formalities and customs security

27.11.2009 — Press releases EDA
The Federal Council has approved the dispatch on adopting and implementing the Agreement between Switzerland and the EU on easing customs formalities and customs security for the attention of parliament. The agreement makes provision for integrating Switzerland's customs security measures with those of the EU. In this way obstacles to the bilateral movement of goods will be avoided. The agreement has been applied provisionally since 1 July 2009.

Official working visit by the Foreign Minister of Liechtenstein, Aurelia Frick, to Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey

24.11.2009 — Press releases EDA
On 24 November 2009, Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey, Head of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), received the Foreign Minister of Liechtenstein, Dr. Aurelia Frick, for an official working visit in the Von-Wattenwyl-Haus in Bern. This is the first formal meeting between the current Foreign Minister of Liechtenstein and Federal Councillor Calmy-Rey.

Population developments in times of climate change

20.11.2009 — Press releases EDA
The climate cannot be stabilised merely by technical solutions. Gender equality and the fight against poverty are complementary approaches that also need to be taken into account at the Copenhagen Climate Conference. This is the recommendation of the UN State of the World Population Report which was presented in Bern on Friday, with accompanying comments by SDC director Mr Dahinden.

Switzerland takes over chairmanship of the Council of Europe

18.11.2009 — Press releases EDA
Switzerland today took over the chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers, the principal decision-making body of the Council of Europe, for a period of six months. Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), took over from her predecessor, the Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Samuel Žbogar, at a meeting of the Delegates of the Committee of Ministers in Strasbourg. At this meeting the head of the FDFA presented Switzerland's priorities.

Switzerland calls for an end to Israeli settlement plans in Gilo, East Jerusalem

18.11.2009 — Press releases EDA
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) is extremely concerned about Israel's plans to extend the Jewish settlement in Gilo, East Jerusalem, by 900 apartments. It appeals to the Israeli government to end these activities immediately and to stop all settlement projects in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Il Consigliere federale Leuenberger rappresenta il Consiglio d'Europa al quarto Internet Governance Forum (IGF)

13.11.2009 — Press releases EDA
Il 15 novembre 2009 il Consigliere federale Moritz Leuenberger parteciperà, nel quadro della Presidenza svizzera del Consiglio d'Europa, all'apertura del quarto Forum dell'ONU sulla gestione di Internet (Internet Governance Forum, IGF) a Sharm El Sheik.

Media (3504)

Victims of National Socialism: Call for proposals to design the memorial in Bern

11.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
In April 2023, the Federal Council decided to establish a memorial in the centre of Bern for the victims of National Socialism. The Federal Council considers it vital to keep alive the memory of the consequences of National Socialism, as well as the fate of the six million Jews and all other victims of the Nazi regime. On the recommendation of the communal parliament of the City of Bern, the Casinoterrasse near the Federal Parliament was selected as the location for the site of remembrance. A call is now being organised to gather proposals for the its creation from multidisciplinary teams in the fields of art, architecture and history.

Switzerland reaffirms its commitment to reconstruction at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 in Rome

11.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
The Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) has been held since 2022 to coordinate reconstruction efforts in Ukraine. At this year's conference, which took place in Rome from 10 to 11 July, the head of the Swiss delegation, Jacques Gerber, signed an international treaty with Ukraine. This forms the legal basis for increased cooperation with the Swiss private sector in reconstruction. Projects in the areas of health, education and war risk insurance were also approved.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis at ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Conference: global security and bilateral relations at centre of talks

11.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
On 10 and 11 July, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis attended the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Malaysia. His participation underlines South East Asia's growing economic importance to Switzerland. Mr Cassis used the platform to discuss economic ties, bilateral relations and global challenges with his counterparts from Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore. For the first time, he also met the new Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand on the margins of the conference.

Strengthening economic ties is focus of talks by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis in Nepal and Bhutan

09.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis visited Nepal and Bhutan during his week-long trip to Asia from 7 to 9 July. The official talks with government representatives centred on bilateral relations and opportunities for deeper economic cooperation.

Les droits des femmes et la non-discrimination au cœur du travail de la Suisse pendant la 59e session du Conseil des droits de l’homme.

08.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
Dans un contexte global marqué par le recul de l’Etat de droit, la Suisse travaille avec détermination en faveur des droits de l’homme. Pour cette 59ème session du Conseil des droits de l’homme (CDH) des Nations Unies, un accent particulier a été placé sur la promotion des droits des femmes et de l’égalité de genre, ainsi que sur les droits des personnes LGBT. La session, qui s'est clôturée aujourd’hui après trois semaines et demie de débats, a été marquée par une adaptation du travail imposée par les restrictions budgétaires affectant l’ensemble du système onusien.

Switzerland reopens its embassy in Iran – ambassador returns to Tehran

06.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
As of today, 6 July 2025, the Swiss embassy in Tehran is open again after having temporarily closed on 20 June due to the unstable situation in Iran. Ambassador Nadine Olivieri Lozano and a small team returned to Tehran yesterday overland via Azerbaijan. The embassy will gradually resume operations.

Ignazio Cassis in Asia for ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and bilateral talks

03.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, the head of the FDFA, will be travelling to Asia from 7 to 13 July 2025. He will attend the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur. His participation highlights the growing economic and geopolitical importance of the South East Asian states. Official working visits to Nepal, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore are also planned around the conference.

Presentation of credentials

02.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
Ambassadors newly accredited to Switzerland present their credentials

FDFA State Secretary Alexandre Fasel in Germany for political consultations

01.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
Alexandre Fasel, the state secretary of the FDFA, was in Berlin on 1 July 2025 to hold political consultations with his German counterpart, the state secretary of the Federal Foreign Office, Géza Andreas von Geyr. Talks focused on current geopolitical developments, bilateral issues and the opening of the consultation procedure in Switzerland on the agreements in the new Swiss-EU package. Mr Fasel also met with the state secretary of Germany's Federal Chancellery, Jörg Semmler.

Switzerland attends 4th International Conference on Financing for Development

30.06.2025 — Press releases EDA
Switzerland will be participating in the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Seville, Spain, from 30 June to 3 July 2025. Organised under the auspices of the United Nations, this global event aims to address financing challenges in order to help achieve the 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals. The conference will cover a wide range of issues relating to development policy, environmental, economic and social sustainability, and macroeconomics. The Swiss delegation is being led by Patricia Danzi, director general of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

Karin Keller-Sutter to meet Emmanuel Macron in Paris

27.06.2025 — Press releases EDA
The President of the Swiss Confederation, Karin Keller-Sutter, is to meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Tuesday, 1 July. The geopolitical situation and security issues will be at the centre of their discussions. Also on the agenda are bilateral relations between Switzerland and France, European policy and competitiveness.

Security and defence partnership: Federal Council to seek exploratory talks with the EU

25.06.2025 — Press releases EDA
At its meeting on 25 June 2025, the Federal Council decided to enter into exploratory talks with the EU with a view to concluding a security and defence partnership. These partnerships provide the EU with a framework for enhancing cooperation with third countries in this field. A security and defence partnership takes the form of non-legally-binding declaration of intent and can be designed individually. A partnership of this kind is a prerequisite for any joint procurements in the defence sector. It is compatible with neutrality and helps to strengthen Switzerland's defence capabilities.

Other news (151)

SwissInTouch, Switzerland in your pocket

24.11.2022 — Article EDA
Approximately 780,000 Swiss citizens abroad currently benefit from the wide range of services provided by a global network of representations offering advice and support. The FDFA Helpline is also on hand to answer queries 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Now there's a new app that makes staying in touch even easier: SwissInTouch keeps Switzerland at your fingertips.

Speech - 150e anniversaire du passage de la frontière de l’armée du général Bourbaki

29.01.2022 — EDA
Allocution du président de la Confédération Ignazio Cassis, chef du Département fédéral des affaires étrangères, à l’occasion du 150e anniversaire du passage de la frontière de l’armée du général Bourbaki - Check against delivery.

"Digitalisation - an opportunity for Europe's democratic values"

21.05.2021 — EDA
Speech by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), on the occasion of the 131st (virtual) Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. Check against delivery.

Official opening of the Ceneri Base Tunnel

04.09.2020 — EDA
Camorino, 04.09.2020 - Address by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis on the occasion of the Inauguration Ceremony "Ceneri2020" - Check against delivery

Passaggio di testimone tra generazioni (de-fr-it)

25.08.2020 — EDA
Bern, 25.08.2020: Address by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis on the occasion of the retirement of the ambassadors and the welcoming of the young diplomats who are taking up their posts in the service of the FDFA. Check against delivery.

75 years of the United Nations (fr)

26.06.2020 — EDA
Geneva, 26.06.2020: Address by the Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis on the 75th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Charter - Check against delivery

Opening of the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council (fr)

24.02.2020 — EDA
Geneva, 24.02.2020 - Speech by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis - Check against delivery

Discover the world with the FDFA and with peace mind

17.01.2020 — Article EDA
Just what is the perfect trip abroad? And where would it take you? Swiss travellers have different needs and expectations – some prefer to go on their own, others would rather choose an organised tour. It doesn't matter if you're a backpacker or a jet-setter: the FDFA provides a wide range of services for anyone who wants to travel abroad.

Switzerland and Italy reach an agreement on Campione d'Italia

20.12.2019 — EDA
At its meeting on 20 December 2019, the Federal Council approved an exchange of notes between Switzerland and Italy regarding the change of the customs status of the Italian enclave of Campione d'Italia. This exchange of notes is necessary to ensure legal certainty and facilitates the transition of Campione d'Italia into the European Union's customs territory, scheduled for 1 January 2020.

Third meeting of the Working Group on Unresolved Issues established by the Joint Committee supervising the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of Georgia and the Government of the Russian Federation

19.12.2019 — EDA
On 16 and 17 December 2019 a third meeting of the Working Group on Unresolved Issues established by the Joint Committee, supervising the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of Georgia and the Government of the Russian Federation on the basic principles for a mechanism of customs administration and monitoring of trade in goods, signed on 9 November 2011, took place in Bern.

First Global Refugee Forum in Geneva brings together actors committed to finding shared solutions

17.12.2019 — EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis has opened the Global Refugee Forum together with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. The purpose of the forum, which takes place on 17 and 18 December at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, is to find shared solutions to meet the needs of refugees and their host communities.

Federal Council extends freeze on assets relating to Tunisia and Ukraine

13.12.2019 — EDA
On 13 December 2019, the Federal Council decided to extend for one year the preventive freeze on the assets relating to Tunisia and Ukraine. The purpose of this decision is to support the judicial cooperation between Switzerland and these two states.

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