The Federal Council has taken note of the proposal and authorised the FDFA to consult the two parliamentary foreign affairs committees on the matter in anticipation of the new federal act on Swiss persons and institutions abroad. The FDFA will inform the Federal Council of the results of the consultation.
Consular services in Paraguay have been provided by the regional centre at the Swiss embassy in Buenos Aires since 2012. The Federal Council had already decided on 17 August 2011, at the recommendation of the FDFA, to close the embassy in Asunción. This decision was taken at the same time as the decision to open a diplomatic representation in Qatar. Up until now, however, the FDFA has not had to proceed with the closure of the embassy in Asunción as savings could be realised through synergies achieved by the regionalisation of consular activities, which was decided as part of the programme on the consolidation and review of tasks, carried out in 2014.
Switzerland's network abroad, currently comprising 170 representations, is continually being adapted on the basis of Switzerland's needs and the international situation. These representations are supplemented by 21 Swiss Business Hubs under the direction of Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE), six Swissnex centres (EAER) and 10 Pro Helvetia offices, which are generally housed in the same premises as the embassies or consulates general in order to concentrate Switzerland's presence in the host country in one location.
Address for enquiries:
FDFA Information
+41 58 462 31 53
info@eda.admin.ch
