Here you can find the last 12 media releases and other news published by the FDFA, such as statements, announcements and articles, in chronological order.
All media releases can be found on the Administarions's website.
21.05.2024
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Press releases
EDA
On Wednesday, 22 May, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will travel to Budapest to meet with his Hungarian counterpart Péter Szijjártó and Minister for European Union Affairs Janos Bóka. He will also pay a courtesy visit to President Tamás Sulyok. Hungary will hold the presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2024. Following his visit to Hungary, Mr Cassis will travel to Montenegro on 23 May at the invitation of Foreign Minister Filip Ivanovic, before meeting Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Siniša Mali in Belgrade on Friday, 24 May.The meetings will focus on Switzerland's bilateral relations with the three countries, European policy and the European security situation.
08.05.2024
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Press releases
EDA
At its meeting on 8 May 2024, the Federal Council decided to make a contribution of CHF 10 million to the humanitarian aid appeal of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The CHF 10 million contribution is exclusively earmarked for Gaza and will be used to provide the urgent assistance specified in the UNRWA Flash Appeal for the occupied Palestinian territory covering the period April–December 2024. In its overall assessment, the Federal Council drew on the analysis of the Colonna report and coordination with other donors. The Federal Council will submit this decision to the foreign affairs committees of the National Council and Council of States for consultation.
15.04.2024
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Press releases
EDA
At the international donors' conference on 15 April 2024 in Paris, Switzerland pledged CHF 19 million to mitigate the humanitarian consequences of the conflict in Sudan. As a result of the ongoing hostilities over the past year, the country is experiencing one of the worst humanitarian disasters of our time. To date, 8.6 million people have been displaced, and the country is on the brink of a devastating famine. From the beginning of the crisis, Switzerland has been actively engaged at multiple levels to help end the conflict and improve the situation on the ground.
11.04.2024
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Press releases
EDA
In 2023, Switzerland's official development assistance (ODA) amounted to CHF 4.64 billion, equivalent to 0.60% of its gross national income (GNI), more than a quarter of which came from asylum-related costs in Switzerland. Excluding these asylum costs, the ODA/GNI ratio was 0.43%.
21.03.2024
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Press releases
EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the FDFA, officially concluded his multi-day trip to East Africa today with a visit to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, following earlier stops in Ethiopia and Djibouti. Mr Cassis' talks with the presidents and foreign ministers of the three countries focused on bilateral relations, regional challenges and opportunities, and multilateralism. The trip also provided important insights for the new Sub-Saharan Africa Strategy that is currently being drawn up.
15.01.2024
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Press releases
EDA
During the official visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Bern on Monday 15 January, Switzerland and Ukraine acknowledged the depth and dynamism of their bilateral relations. The Swiss government delegation, led by President Viola Amherd, underscored Switzerland's continued solidarity with Ukraine. Another key item on the agenda was the follow-up to the meeting of national security advisers hosted in Davos on Sunday within the framework of the Ukrainian peace formula. Switzerland expressed its willingness to organise a high-level summit.
12.01.2024
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Press releases
EDA
The 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum is taking place in Davos next week. Six members of the Federal Council will be attending. President Viola Amherd will open the event together with WEF founder Prof. Klaus Schwab on Tuesday, 16 January.
20.12.2023
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Press releases
EDA
Facing the severe challenges of an unforgiving winter, millions in Ukraine find themselves in dire need of assistance. In response, Switzerland's federal government is supporting the beleaguered Ukrainian population this winter too with targeted action and an additional CHF 11.8 million in aid. This brings the total investment in winter relief measures up to around CHF 26 million.
12.12.2023
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Press releases
EDA
Together with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Switzerland will host the second Global Refugee Forum from 13 to 15 December 2023 in Geneva. The main objective of the forum is to bolster the effectiveness of aid provided to people fleeing from violence and crises, and to improve global coordination in this regard. The forum will take stock of the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees to date and seek to strengthen the commitment of the international community in this area. At the forum, Switzerland will reaffirm its support for the protection and integration of refugees both in Switzerland and abroad. In addition to the federal government, Swiss cantons, cities and civil society will contribute to this effort.
21.11.2023
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Press releases
EDA
On Tuesday 21 November, federal councillors Alain Berset, president of the Swiss Confederation and Ignazio Cassis, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), received a courtesy visit from a delegation from Hungary headed by the country’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán. The exchange centred on bilateral relations, Switzerland's European policy objectives, Hungary's presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2024 and current international issues.
18.10.2023
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Press releases
EDA
On Wednesday, 18 October, a Federal Council delegation led by President Alain Berset received Moldovan President Maia Sandu on an official visit to Switzerland. Talks focused on the impact on Moldova of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine as well as bilateral cooperation. The programme for Thursday, 19 October, includes a visit to a pharmaceutical company in Basel and a panel event at ETH Zurich.
13.10.2023
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Press releases
EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will represent Switzerland next Tuesday 17 October at the fourth ministerial conference of the Moldova Support Platform in Chisinau. This platform’s aim is to promote internationally coordinated assistance for the Republic of Moldova. Moldova faces numerous challenges and difficulties, especially owing to Russia's military aggression against neighbouring Ukraine.
13.09.2013 —
Press releases
EDA
During its meeting on Friday 13 September, the Federal Council adopted an agreement with Jordan on humanitarian aid as well as technical and financial cooperation. Jordan has been severely impacted by the crisis in Syria and is currently hosting more than 500,000 of the 2 million refugees from the conflict. Thanks to this agreement, there is now a formal legal basis for Swiss (particularly humanitarian) assistance, which will facilitate cooperation in assisting the most vulnerable populations in the region.
10.09.2013 —
Press releases
EDA
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) welcomes and supports the idea to place chemical weapons under international control as a means to implementing international humanitarian law and re-establishing the dialogue in order to find a just and negotiated solution to the conflict in Syria. The positive reactions to the recent Russian proposal, in particular from the United States, are encouraging. Switzerland reiterates its call to all parties to accept their responsibility to work towards a political solution and to protect the civilian population in conformity with the provisions of international humanitarian law.
28.08.2013 —
Press releases
EDA
Switzerland is extremely concerned by the political and humanitarian situation in Syria and strongly condemns the serious violations of international humanitarian law which culminated in the alleged use of chemical weapons. Switzerland reiterates its appeal to reason and to all sides to assume their responsibilities and work towards a political solution. Everything possible must be done as a matter of urgency to protect the civilian population in accordance with humanitarian rules.
19.08.2013 —
Press releases
EDA
The 2013 Ambassadors and Representations abroad Conference has begun in Bern with an opening address by Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter. The 4-day event is entitled "Switzerland confronts the risks and challenges for foreign and security policy". Around 230 Swiss representatives working abroad will debate current foreign and security policy issues in working groups and plenary discussions, as well as Switzerland's response to the challenges involved.
07.06.2013 —
Press releases
EDA
There is no end in sight to the violence in Syria and the humanitarian situation is unlikely to improve in the near future. On 7 June 2013, the UN in Geneva published its assistance plans for Syria and neighbouring countries for the second half of 2013. The UN and its partners have requested USD 4.4 billion to alleviate suffering. Switzerland intends to add CHF 20 million to the CHF 30 million already provided for the victims since the beginning of the conflict in Syria.
07.03.2013 —
Press releases
EDA
Today marks the start of Swiss membership of “Friends of Yemen”, a group of over 30 states and several organisations which exists to support political transition in Yemen. At today’s meeting in London, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter mentioned that between 2012 and 2014 Switzerland has provided around CHF 20 million to support political stabilisation and improve the humanitarian situation in the country.
19.02.2013 —
Press releases
EDA
After nearly two years of violence, the humanitarian situation in Syria has reached catastrophic proportions and the crisis continues to deteriorate. In light of these events, the 7th Syrian Humanitarian Forum (SHF) took place in Geneva on 19th February 2013. For the first time this important platform for the mobilisation of humanitarian aid and coordination of all humanitarian actors was held at principals’ level, and for the first time it was hosted by Switzerland.
30.01.2013 —
Press releases
EDA
As the crisis in Syria continues to worsen, the humanitarian situation has reached disastrous proportions with some four million people in need of aid according to estimates of the United Nations. They also face a harsh winter, as do about 700,000 refugees in the neighbouring states. Switzerland, attending the international donor conference in Kuwait, has pledged CHF 10 million of aid in 2013 to assist those affected by the Syrian crisis. Since March 2011 when the fighting began, Switzerland has disbursed a total of CHF 20 million to aid the victims of this ongoing civil war.
11.01.2013 —
Press releases
EDA
An official working meeting has taken place in La Chaux-de-Fonds between Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter and his Cypriot counterpart Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis. Their talks focused on the signing of the bilateral agreement on the protection of cultural goods. The purpose of this agreement is to contribute to the preservation and the exchange of the cultural heritage and to prevent the illicit trade in protected archaeological cultural goods. The two foreign ministers also discussed EU policy and the situation in the eastern Mediterranean in the light of the civil war in Syria.
30.11.2012 —
Press releases
EDA
The Federal Council has submitted a request to Parliament to increase the funds available for humanitarian aid to the people of Syria to CHF 5 million. This interim funding is intended to build up the underfinanced programmes of the international organisations currently providing support in the region. The Federal Council notes that the humanitarian situation in Syria is steadily deteriorating and that the affected sections of the Syrian population are urgently in need of more support before winter sets in.
19.11.2012 —
Press releases
EDA
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA is providing the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) with support to the amount of CHF 500,000 from the funds of Swiss Humanitarian Aid to help Syrian refugees in Turkey. The money will be used to purchase heaters, stoves, winter clothes and other items, all of which should help to make life in the refugee camps more bearable in the face of the coming winter. In addition, Switzerland is also sending a Humanitarian Aid expert to assist the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in the region.
14.11.2012 —
Press releases
EDA
The Federal Council has approved the Dispatch to Parliament on Ratification of the Amendments to the Constitution of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The amendments will strengthen the functioning of the IOM.
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.
06.11.2019 —
EDA
The United Nations (UN) has announced the resignation of the Commissioner-General for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Pierre Krähenbühl. The announcement follows the launch of an investigation into misconduct allegations involving UNRWA's management. The FDFA notes the resignation and calls for a full and thorough clarification of the facts. Switzerland will withhold payment of its project contributions pending the outcome of the investigation.
10.07.2019 —
EDA
Mr Cassis's visit to Greece has mainly been concerned with the situation of refugees and the challenges posed by migration. On Tuesday, the head of the FDFA visited the refugee camp on Samos and today met Nikos Dendias, who was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs this week, and President Prokopis Pavlopoulos.
Didier Burkhalter will be speaking at a panel discussion entitled ‘Displacement – the global challenge of the 21st century’, which is being held at the University of Zurich in connection with the ‘DISPLACED’ exhibition at the National Museum Zurich. In this interview he talks about Swiss foreign policy in the area of migration.
DISPLACED opens on 29 October 2016 at the National Museum Zurich. The exhibition gives visitors a glimpse of what it means to have to give up one's home, family, work and country. The SDC is taking part in the exhibition.
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 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.
When Hungary closed its border with Croatia on 17 October, hundreds of thousands of migrants moved further west and redirected their route through the West Balkans. As Slovenia, a country of a mere two million people, had to bear the brunt of this new development, it turned to Switzerland for help. Since mid-November a team of five experts from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit has supported the Slovenian authorities as well as NGOs to tackle this giant task.
Thousands of refugees have been travelling to and transiting through Slovenia every day since September 2015. Since the beginning of November the country’s civil protection authorities have been benefiting from Swiss Humanitarian Aid’s experience in setting up suitably equipped refugee camps. For Stanislav Lotric, Switzerland’s support is important – also as a symbol of solidarity.
Johanna Estermann, a member of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit since 2010, has won this year’s Swiss Humanitarian Award, which is given each year to a deserving student by the Geneva Centre for Education and Research in Humanitarian Action (CERAH).
Andrea Cippa, Barbara Egger Maldonado, Arnold Egli and Dominique Reinecke each worked for the UNHCR or the World Food Programme (WFP) in South Sudan and Ethiopia for several months. What they have in common is that they are all members of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) and they have all worked to improve the lives of displaced persons and refugees in the region. Having returned from their missions, they explain the significance of their respective commitments.
An engineer by profession, Henri Stalder has been a member of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) since 2002. He has taken part in SHA missions in several countries in this capacity. Since January 2014 has Henri Stalder been made available to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Syria where he runs the shelter sector. This sector provides emergency accommodation to displaced persons and reconstructs damaged buildings. Henri Stalder embodies the various types of support Switzerland provides to the victims of the conflict. Interview performed in May 2014.