Press releases

Topical politics and historical events: President Burkhalter meets representatives of the Belgian government in Brussels, and attends commemoration of First World War casualties in Ypres

14.11.2014 — Press releases EDA
Today's visit of President of the Swiss Confederation Didier Burkhalter to Belgium has two distinct parts. This morning he was received by Philippe, King of the Belgians, and held political talks with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders. The afternoon is dedicated to commemorating the suffering and the victims of the First World War, when President Burkhalter will visit a trench system from that time in Ypres, and take part in a ceremony of remembrance with three classes of Swiss schoolchildren. For President Burkhalter, visiting the former battlefields in West Flanders is symbolic of the ongoing need to do everything possible to secure peace.

The President of the Swiss Confederation, Didier Burkhalter, meets the Maltese Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr George W. Vella

04.11.2014 — Press releases EDA
The President of the Swiss Confederation and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) met the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Malta on Tuesday for an official working visit at the Watteville House in Bern. The meeting was an opportunity to take stock of various international and multilateral issues and of the development of bilateral relations between Switzerland and Malta. A memorandum of understanding was signed.

"Zusammen die Zukunft bauen" (de)

22.10.2014 — Article EDA

Bern, 22.10.2014 - Greeting by the President of the Swiss Confederation, Mr. Didier Burkhalter, at the ceremony of attaining the legal age of majority jointly organized by the city of Bern, the FDFA, and the OSA - Check against delivery

Official visit by Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel

17.09.2014 — Press releases EDA
President Didier Burkhalter welcomed Luxembourg’s prime minister to Neuchâtel on 17 September for an official working visit. Their talks focused on the countries’ bilateral relations, relations between Switzerland and the EU, immigration policy and Switzerland and Luxembourg’s co-presidency of the European Space Agency. In the afternoon Mr Bettel met Federal Councillors Simonetta Sommaruga and Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf in Bern to discuss issues relating to immigration and financial and fiscal policy.

Change in immigration system: Yes to popular initiative aimed at stopping mass immigration

09.02.2014 — Press releases EDA
The Swiss population has adopted a popular initiative aimed at stopping mass immigration. This brings with it a change of system in Switzerland’s immigration policy. The new constitutional provisions require that immigration be restricted by means of quantitative limits and quotas. The Federal Council will set to work on implementing these without delay.

Temporary visa facilitation for Syrian nationals lifted

29.11.2013 — Press releases EDA
On 4 September 2013, the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) ordered an easing of visa requirements for Syrian nationals with relatives in Switzerland. This measure was aimed at facilitating temporary stay for war-afflicted relatives of Syrians living in Switzerland. As most of the relatives who were in direct need and therefore entitled to facilitated visa requirements have since made use of the measure, the directive was lifted on Friday by the FDJP.

Federal Council recommends rejection of the

25.11.2013 — Press releases EDA
The Federal Council recommends the rejection of the "Stop mass immigration” Initiative, which is being put to a popular vote on 9 February 2014. The initiative calls for quotas for all foreign nationals. This would be a reversal of the current proven system of admission and would make it difficult for businesses to recruit the staff they require from abroad. Furthermore, it would jeopardise the bilateral agreements and consequently relations with the European Union.

President of the Confederation Ueli Maurer, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter and Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga to attend the 68th UN General Assembly in New York

20.09.2013 — Press releases EDA
President of the Swiss Confederation Ueli Maurer and Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter will represent Switzerland at the high-level week of the 68th United Nations General Assembly in New York, from 23 to 27 September. At the opening of the General Debate, the president of the Confederation will set out the main points of Switzerland’s policy on the United Nations, while Federal Councillor Burkhalter will take part in several conferences dealing with current issues. On 3 and 4 October, Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga will attend the High-Level UN Dialogue on Migration and Development, in New York.

Switzerland increases support for the Federal Government of Somalia at ministerial Somalia conference in Brussels

16.09.2013 — Press releases EDA
On 16 September, Switzerland is taking part in the international conference on Somalia in Brussels, with a delegation headed by Martin Dahinden, director-general of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The outcome of the conference is to be a "compact" with Somalia to rebuild the country. Within the framework of its 2013-2016 Horn of Africa strategy, Switzerland is active in the region in a number of areas: diplomacy, humanitarian aid, development cooperation, the promotion of peace and security, and migration.

Official working visit of Georgian foreign minister to Switzerland

13.09.2013 — Press releases EDA
On 13 September 2013, the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, received Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze for an official working visit. A visa facilitation agreement was signed in Neuchâtel during the visit. Other topics of discussion included the Swiss chairmanship of the OSCE in 2014, Switzerland's efforts to promote peace in the South Caucasus, and economic cooperation between the two states.

Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter on official working visit to Morocco

05.09.2013 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter will make an official working visit to Morocco on Friday 6 September 2013. It is the first official visit of a head of Swiss diplomacy to the country. Mr Burkhalter will meet with the Moroccan minister for foreign affairs and cooperation, Saad-Eddine El Othmani. He will also talk with the Moroccan head of government, Abdelilah Benkirane, and interior minister, Mohand Laenser.

Progress in the migration partnership between Switzerland and Nigeria, also in the area of asylum and returns

20.06.2013 — Press releases EDA
Today Switzerland and Nigeria have held talks on the migration partnership between the two countries, on the occasion of the visit to Switzerland of Nigerian Secretary of State Martin Uhomoibhi. The discussions covered joint activities and projects in various areas, such as police cooperation and cooperation with the Nigerian diaspora in the area of professional training. The action plan presented by Switzerland with regard to asylum and returns was accepted by Nigeria.

Federal Council postpones final decision on Global Compact for Migration until conclusion of parliamentary debates

21.11.2018 — Press releases EDA
The Federal Council believes that the United Nations Global Compact for Migration is consistent with Switzerland's interests, as it aims to reduce irregular migration by setting benchmarks for orderly migration practices. However, the Federal Council wishes to postpone its final decision pending conclusion of the parliamentary debates. As a result, Switzerland will not attend the intergovernmental conference for the formal adoption of the global compact to be held in Marrakech on 10 and 11 December 2018.

Switzerland supports cooperation projects in Eritrea

12.10.2017 — Press releases EDA
Having withdrawn from the country over ten years ago, the SDC has now resumed support for cooperation projects in Eritrea. In October 2017, it began supporting two vocational projects in a pilot phase scheduled to run until the end of 2019.

Didier Burkhalter meets Sudanese foreign minister in Bern

16.05.2017 — Press releases EDA
On 16 May 2017 Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter received Ibrahim Ghandour, the Sudanese foreign minister, in Bern. It is the first time since 2005 that a meeting at ministerial level has taken place between the two countries. The meeting covered recent developments in Sudan, the country's role in the region and opportunities for dialogue and cooperation to enable progress in the areas of political reform, human rights promotion and compliance, the management of migration and the protection of migrants.

Federal Council approves 2016 Foreign Policy Report

11.01.2017 — Press releases EDA
The Federal Council approved the 2016 Foreign Policy Report at its meeting on 11 January 2017. The report gives an overview of Swiss foreign policy and provides an account of Switzerland’s most important foreign policy activities in 2016, in particular in the areas of development cooperation, humanitarian aid and good offices. This year’s report contains a chapter focusing on Switzerland’s efforts to promote peace and development in the crisis regions stretching from Syria to the Sahel.

The importance of relations between Switzerland and Turkey discussed in Bern

03.11.2016 — Press releases EDA
"Relations with Turkey are extremely important to Switzerland, even more so today than in the past. Dialogue and listening to each other are essential if we are to rise to the challenges of our time". This is what Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter said on 3 November 2016 at a meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, at the Lohn Manor near Bern. The talks focused on the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, but the two foreign ministers also discussed their countries’ bilateral relations as well as multilateral cooperation. In addition, Mr Burkhalter mentioned Switzerland's actions and potential in the context of Swiss policy of good offices.

Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter receives Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström

11.10.2016 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) Didier Burkhalter received the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström for a working visit today. The talks, held at Hôtel DuPeyrou in Neuchâtel, covered bilateral relations and EU policy. Cooperation between Switzerland and Sweden in international forums and topical international issues were also on the agenda for discussion.

UN issues declaration on refugees and migration

19.09.2016 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga represented Switzerland on Monday at the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants in New York. The states want to meet the challenges posed by large movements of refugees and migrants more effectively and issued a political declaration on this issue. Federal Councillor Sommaruga stressed that Switzerland wants to play an active role in implementing the goals agreed at the summit in New York.

Switzerland’s priorities at the UN’s 71st General Assembly

07.09.2016 — Press releases EDA
Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, President of the Swiss Confederation, will set out Switzerland’s priorities in relation to the UN for the coming year on 20 September at the opening of the UN’s 71st General Assembly. He will also take part in various events and meet with heads of state and government. During this ministerial week in New York, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter will also represent Switzerland at various events, focusing in particular on international security, and will conduct bilateral talks. Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga will also take part in the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants to be held on the eve of the opening of the General Assembly.

Switzerland steps up its humanitarian commitment to the people fleeing the fighting in Iraq

20.07.2016 — Press releases EDA
A conference of donor countries was held today in Washington to mobilise funds to ensure better humanitarian support for the tens of thousands of internally displaced persons fleeing the fighting that has been ravaging Iraq since May. Switzerland has decided to allocate an additional CHF 1 million, increasing its commitment to CHF 10 million for 2016.

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.

Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter receives UNRWA Commissioner-General, Pierre Krähenbühl

14.04.2016 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter received the head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Pierre Krähenbühl, on Thursday in Bern. They discussed developments in the Middle East and Switzerland's support for UNRWA.

Engagement in fragile states: Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter calls for sustainable 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.

UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants: the international community's responsibility – Switzerland's commitment

16.09.2016 — Article DEZA

The first United Nations Summit for Refugees and Migrants is taking place on 19 September 2016 in New York and will see the international community adopt joint measures in response to the large movements of refugees and migrants. Switzerland will be focusing in particular on improving protection on the ground, preventing forced displacement and finding sustainable solutions for directly affected populations.

Switzerland aims to protect refugees and give them the chance of a brighter future

16.09.2016 — Article DEZA

Switzerland is taking part in the United Nations Summit for Refugees and Migrants on 19 September. Eduard Gnesa, Special Ambassador for International Cooperation on Migration Issues, talks about the challenges facing the international community as a result of the refugee situation. 

Switzerland supports UNDP in crisis prevention and recovery

23.05.2016 — Article DEZA

The United Nations Development Programme helps countries to prevent armed conflicts and violence, and to build better and stronger societies in the aftermath of crises. Switzerland will provide additional support to its crisis prevention and recovery programs. On 23 May 2016, Federal Councilor Didier Burkhalter and UNDP Administrator Helen Clark have signed a partnership agreement of CHF 13.8 million at the margins of the World Humanitarian Summit.

A hard road ahead to full gender equality (de)

09.03.2015 — Article EDA

Maya Tissafi, Deputy Director of the SDC and Head of South Cooperation Department, on International Women's Day.

"Zusammen die Zukunft bauen" (de)

22.10.2014 — Article EDA

Bern, 22.10.2014 - Greeting by the President of the Swiss Confederation, Mr. Didier Burkhalter, at the ceremony of attaining the legal age of majority jointly organized by the city of Bern, the FDFA, and the OSA - Check against delivery