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EFTA–Mercosur and bilateral relations: Ignazio Cassis concludes five-day visit to Latin America

08.02.2025 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), visited Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil from 3 to 7 February. Finalising the EFTA–Mercosur free trade agreement and advancing Switzerland's economic interests were central to the Federal Councillor's discussions in these three countries. Other current foreign policy issues were also addressed.


Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis to visit Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil

31.01.2025 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will visit Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil from 3 to 7 February 2025. As part of its Americas Strategy 2022–25, Switzerland aims to strengthen its political relations with the countries of the Americas in the areas of foreign policy, the economy, innovation and culture. The agenda for the trip includes the finalisation of the EFTA-Mercosur free trade agreement, Switzerland's economic interests, and bilateral relations between Switzerland and these three Latin American countries.


2030 Agenda implementation: FDFA assesses progress at federal and cantonal levels and in organisations

30.01.2025 — Press releases EDA
Every four years, Switzerland presents to the other UN member states how it is progressing in implementing the 2030 Agenda's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In its country report, which will be presented in mid-2026, it will also draw on information from the cantons, communes and organisations from the business community, the financial centre, academia and civil society. All relevant actors have until the end of May 2025 to submit details of their activities via the 'SDGital2030' digital platform.


Development cooperation: FDFA and EAER implement Parliament's decisions

29.01.2025 — Press releases EDA
At its 29 January 2025 meeting, the Federal Council was informed about how the cuts to development cooperation decided on by Parliament will be implemented. In late December, Parliament made cuts of CHF 110 million to the 2025 budget and CHF 321 million to the 2026–28 financial plan for bilateral and multilateral development cooperation. The cuts do not affect humanitarian aid, peace promotion or support for Ukraine.


Negotiating mandate for recognition of electronic signatures

29.01.2025 — Press releases EDA
Electronic signatures on documents should be recognised in Switzerland and in the European Union (EU). At its meeting on 29 January 2025, the Federal Council instructed the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) to draw up a corresponding mandate for negotiating with the EU, in collaboration with the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA).


Swiss expert becomes Special Representative of the OSCE chairperson-in-office on South Caucasus

24.01.2025 — Press releases EDA
The chairperson-in-office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Finland's foreign minister Elina Valtonen, has appointed Christoph Späti as the Special Representative of the Finnish OSCE Chairpersonship for the South Caucasus. The Swiss expert, who most recently served as programme manager for the South Caucasus in the FDFA's Peace and Human Rights Division (PHRD), took up the post of Special Representative on 21 January 2025.


Ignazio Cassis highlights Europe, Ukraine and the Middle East at Davos 2025

23.01.2025 — Press releases EDA
At the 2025 edition of the World Economic Forum, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the FDFA, placed particular emphasis on European policy and the situations in Ukraine and the Middle East. He also raised matters relating to security and cooperation, particularly as Switzerland prepares to chair the OSCE in 2026.


Switzerland and Ukraine launch private sector partnership for reconstruction

23.01.2025 — Press releases EDA
On 23 January, at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland and Ukraine signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at expanding the role of Swiss businesses operating in Ukraine in the country's recovery. The MoU was signed by Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin and First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko.


Official working visit by Vice Premier of the State Affairs Council of the People's Republic of China, Mr Ding Xuexiang

20.01.2025 — Press releases EDA
On 20 January 2025, Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin, Vice President of the Federal Council and Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER), and Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), welcomed Mr Ding Xuexiang, Vice Premier of the State Affairs Council of the People's Republic of China, in Bern for an official working visit. Switzerland and the People's Republic of China are currently celebrating the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.




Switzerland to chair the OSCE in 2026

30.12.2024 — Press releases EDA
In 2026, Switzerland will chair the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) for the third time, following its chairpersonships in 1996 and 2014. Switzerland was elected by the participating states of the organisation in a secret ballot. It will assume first executive functions already from 1 January 2025: as a member of the troika – comprising the 2024 (Malta), 2025 (Finland) and 2026 (Switzerland) chairs – it will be responsible for relations with the Mediterranean states, among other things.

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