Press releases

All news (3697)

Switzerland extends support to Caribbean in wake of Hurricane Melissa

31.10.2025 — Press releases EDA
In response to the severe damage caused by Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean, Switzerland is stepping up its humanitarian efforts in the region. The FDFA has released over CHF 1 million to help those affected in Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica and is deploying nine specialists to Cuba to support the Red Cross there with the relief operations on the ground.

State visit by President Cyril Ramaphosa: Switzerland and South Africa strengthen relations

29.10.2025 — Press releases EDA
The state visit by President Cyril Ramaphosa is serving as an opportunity for Switzerland and South Africa to strengthen relations. On Wednesday, 29 October, five documents on future cooperation were signed. Prior to that, the South African president was received by the full Federal Council. Official talks focused on bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries at international level.

Ignazio Cassis in Iraq and Kuwait: new opportunities and partnerships

25.10.2025 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis's official visit to Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait ends today. Following his official visit to Jordan on 22 October, the head of the FDFA travelled to Iraq and Kuwait from 23 to 25 October. This trip to the Middle East gave the head of the FDFA an opportunity to discuss the geopolitical challenges facing the region, such as the situation in the Gaza Strip. These three official visits also highlight the new perspectives for political, economic and humanitarian cooperation in a region in motion.

Situation in Gaza at heart of discussions between Ignazio Cassis and Ayman Safadi in Amman

24.10.2025 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis travelled to Amman on 22 October for an official visit to Jordan. There he met with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, for in-depth discussions on regional political developments, the humanitarian situation in Gaza and bilateral cooperation between Switzerland and Jordan. The conflict in the Middle East and the US's 20-point peace plan were at the heart of the talks.

Injured children to be evacuated from Gaza for medical treatment

24.10.2025 — Press releases EDA
As part of a humanitarian operation, Switzerland is evacuating an initial group of seven injured children from the Gaza Strip to Switzerland. The children and persons accompanying them will be hosted by seven Swiss cantons, where they will receive medical treatment at university and cantonal hospitals. They will also undergo an asylum procedure in Switzerland. The humanitarian operation has been jointly organised by several federal agencies and cantons, and is being carried out in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Swiss Air-Rescue Rega.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to pay state visit to Switzerland

23.10.2025 — Press releases EDA
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will pay a two-day state visit to Switzerland next week at the invitation of the Federal Council, led by President Karin Keller-Sutter. The visit aims to underscore and further deepen the close and multifaceted relationship between the two countries. South Africa is strategically important for Switzerland and ranks among its most important partners on the African continent.

La situation à Gaza au cœur des discussions entre les ministres des affaires étrangère Ignazio Cassis et Ayman Safadi à Amman

23.10.2025 — Press releases EDA
Le conseiller fédéral Ignazio Cassis s’est rendu à Amman le 22 octobre pour une visite officielle en Jordanie. Il y a rencontré son homologue, le ministre des Affaires étrangères Ayman Safadi, pour un échange approfondi sur les évolutions politiques régionales, la situation humanitaire à Gaza et la coopération bilatérale entre la Suisse et le Royaume hachémite. Le confit au Proche-Orient et le plan de paix en 20 points des Etats-Unis ont été au cœur des échanges.

Federal Council initiates consultation on Amending Protocol to Agreement between Switzerland and EU on automatic exchange of information in tax matters

22.10.2025 — Press releases EDA
During its meeting on 22 October 2025, the Federal Council launched the consultation on the Amending Protocol to the Agreement between Switzerland and the European Union (EU) on the automatic exchange of financial account information to improve international tax compliance. The Agreement will be aligned with the amended OECD standard and also contains new provisions on administrative assistance for the recovery of VAT claims.

House of Switzerland 2028 in California – a showcase for Swiss creativity and innovation

22.10.2025 — Press releases EDA
At its meeting today, the Federal Council decided to capitalise on the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles to promote Switzerland and its interests. California is one of the leading regions in the US for innovation, cutting-edge technology and entrepreneurship. The House of Switzerland will shine a spotlight on Switzerland's strengths in the creative industries, the tech sector, sport and health.

Ignazio Cassis on official visits to Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait

21.10.2025 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the FDFA, will be in Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait on official visits from 22 to 25 October 2025. Mr Cassis will be accompanied by the National Council president, Maja Riniker. The visit to the Middle East will serve to deepen bilateral relations, explore possible new avenues for cooperation and discuss current regional developments.

SDG Flag Day in Lugano: first dialogue between some of Switzerland's largest cities

20.10.2025 — Press releases EDA
An event in connection with SDG Flag Day 2025 was held in Lugano on Friday 17 October at the Asilo Ciani with representatives of Bern and Zurich attending alongside the mayors of Biel/Bienne and Lugano. The two Federal Council delegates for the 2030 Agenda, Markus Reubi (FDFA) and Daniel Dubas (DETEC), as well as the director of the Swiss Union of Cities, Monika Litscher, also participated.

Switzerland and EU sign Amending Protocol to the Agreement on automatic exchange of information in tax matters

20.10.2025 — Press releases EDA
On 20 October 2025 in Brussels, Switzerland and the European Union (EU) signed the Amending Protocol to the Agreement on the automatic exchange of financial account information to improve international tax compliance. With the Amending Protocol, the Agreement will be aligned to the amended OECD standard and supplemented with new provisions on administrative assistance for the collection of VAT claims.

Media (3546)

Mongolian Foreign Minister in Bern for an official working visit

25.10.2012 — Press releases EDA
On 25 October 2012, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, head of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), received the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia, Luvsanvandan Bold, in Bern for an official working visit. The talks covered bilateral relations, in particular the work of the SDC in Mongolia. A number of multilateral issues were also discussed.

Peter Burkhard named Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia

24.10.2012 — Press releases EDA
Eamon Gilmore, Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Ireland, has named Swiss diplomat Peter Burkhard as Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia.

Protection of the Swiss embassy in Tripoli by the army – The Federal Council wishes to prolong the mandate – Dispatch to Parliament

24.10.2012 — Press releases EDA
On Wednesday, 24 October 2012 the Federal Council approved the dispatch to Parliament on approval of the continued activity of the army to protect the Swiss embassy in Tripoli. The government believes that there are still real risks to which the staff of the diplomatic representation will be exposed in the coming months and that this justifies the prolongation of the provisions currently in place.

Official visit of Slovenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Karl Erjavec

23.10.2012 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), welcomed his counterpart Karl Erjavec of Slovenia on an official working visit to Bern on 23 October. In addition to bilateral relations, discussions touched on Switzerland’s future chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and European policy in general. Current international topics were also raised.

Visit by Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter to Moscow

23.10.2012 — Press releases EDA
Didier Burkhalter, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, will be in Moscow on 24 and 25 October for an official visit. During this working trip, he will meet with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss bilateral and international issues. This is the first official visit to Sergei Lavrov by Federal Councillor Burkhalter.

Bomb attack in Beirut (Lebanon) – FDFA statement

20.10.2012 — Press releases EDA
The FDFA strongly condemns the bomb attack of 19 October 2012 in the Lebanese capital Beirut.

Green Climate Fund to be headquartered in Songdo (South Korea)

20.10.2012 — Press releases EDA
The Board of the Green Climate Fund has recommended that Songdo, South Korea, be chosen as the permanent headquarters of the Fund. Geneva was also among the candidates considered. The Green Climate Fund was created to provide financial support for measures by developing countries to limit or reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

International Law Day: International Humanitarian Law or the Effort to Humanise War

19.10.2012 — Press releases EDA
The Directorate of International Law (DIL) of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) held its traditional international day on 19 October in Bern. The 2012 edition focused on international humanitarian law and was inaugurated by Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, head of the FDFA, who emphasised the challenges that international humanitarian law is facing in its efforts to improve protection for the victims of armed conflicts.

Columbian peace dialogue – FDFA position

18.10.2012 — Press releases EDA
Switzerland applauds the negotiations being held in Oslo between the Colombian government and the FARC.

European Anti-Trafficking Day: Federal Councillor Sommaruga presents the first National Action Plan

18.10.2012 — Press releases EDA
"What are we in Switzerland doing against human trafficking?" This question provided the theme for a conference on Thursday in Bern, attended by some 250 participants. Organized by the Human Security Division of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the conference provided a forum for representatives of the federal government, cantons and civil society to discuss what action must be taken. Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga, Head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) presented the first "National Action Plan Against Human Trafficking" at the event.

2012 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Tokyo

11.10.2012 — Press releases EDA
President Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, as Head of the Swiss delegation, Federal Councillor Johann Schneider-Ammann and Thomas Jordan, Chairman of the Governing Board of the Swiss National Bank (SNB), will take part in the joint Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group in Tokyo from 12 to 13 October 2012. The principal topics of discussion in the International Monetary and Financial Committee will be the state of the global economy, as well as IMF funding and the IMF quota reform. The main items on the agenda for the Development Committee include the World Development Report on Jobs, managing disaster risks as well as the implementation of the gender equality agenda.

Switzerland to participate in the XIVth Summit of La Francophonie

10.10.2012 — Press releases EDA
The XIVth Summit of La Francophonie is being held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on 13-14 October 2012. The Swiss delegation will be headed by Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer, vice-president of the Swiss Federal Council. The Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, will attend the Summit’s Ministerial Conference on 11 October, following which he will pay working visits to Burundi and Egypt.

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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