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.
14.06.2024
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Press releases
EDA
Armed conflicts, forced displacement and natural disasters mean that more and more children have no or only limited access to education. At its meeting on 14 June 2024, the Federal Council therefore decided to continue supporting the United Nations Education Cannot Wait (ECW) fund, which is committed to providing access to education in emergency situations and protracted crises. For the 2025–28 period, the Federal Council approved a contribution of CHF 33.3 million to the ECW, which Switzerland has supported with CHF 40 million since 2019.
12.06.2024
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Press releases
EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis received Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi in Bern on 12 June 2024. The discussions focused on the safety of Ukraine's nuclear facilities and Switzerland's support for the IAEA's work in Ukraine. The meeting is part of a series of high-level exchanges with the IAEA, and underscores the importance that Switzerland attaches to nuclear safety and security and to the IAEA as a whole, particularly in the context of the war in Ukraine.
12.06.2024
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Press releases
EDA
President Viola Amherd met Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Luís Montenegro on Wednesday, 12 June. The talks in Bern focused on the countries’ close bilateral relations, European policy, the upcoming summit on peace in Ukraine and cooperation between Switzerland and Portugal at multilateral level.
10.06.2024
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Press releases
EDA
Switzerland has been supporting the recovery and reconstruction process in Ukraine since the start of the war. In line with this commitment, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will attend the third Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) in Berlin on 11 and 12 June 2024, following on from the URCs in Lugano (2022) and London (2023). The Berlin conference will focus, among other things, on private sector involvement, social aspects and the promotion of local and regional development.
10.06.2024
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Press releases
EDA
90 states and organisations have so far registered to attend the summit on peace in Ukraine at the Bürgenstock (NW) on 15/16 June. The aim of the high-level meeting of heads of state and government is to develop a common understanding for a possible path towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. This will then form the basis for a peace process. On 10 June, President Viola Amherd, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis and Nidwalden Cantonal Councillor Karin Kayser-Frutschi, together with Stephan Grieder, head of operations and chief of the Nidwalden Cantonal Police, and Major General Daniel Keller, Commander of Territorial Division 2, gave a briefing on the state of preparations and security measures.
07.06.2024
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Press releases
EDA
At its meeting on 7 June, the Federal Council decided to continue supporting Ukraine in the areas of digitalisation and e-governance, approving CHF 58.7 million for this purpose over the next four years. Switzerland is thus promoting democratic reforms in Ukraine through digitalisation and at the same time increasing the transparency of state-provided services. Both areas are of crucial importance for Ukraine to rebuild.
07.06.2024
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Press releases
EDA
The Summit on Peace in Ukraine will take place on 15 and 16 June 2024 at the Bürgenstock resort in the canton of Nidwalden. A major security operation is in place to ensure the safety of the event and those attending. At its meeting on 7 June 2024, the Federal Council decided to consider the summit an 'extraordinary event'. This means that the Confederation will contribute to the security costs borne by the canton of Nidwalden.
07.06.2024
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Press releases
EDA
The Federal Council appointed David Grichting as the new head of the Directorate for Resources (DR) of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) in its meeting on 7 June 2024. David Grichting currently heads the FDFA’s Consular Directorate (CD). He will take up his new post on 1 January 2025 succeeding to Tania Cavassini, who has been appointed ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the French Republic and the Principality of Monaco by the Federal Council. The FDFA will appoint a selection committee to
to evaluate candidates to succeed David Grichting.
07.06.2024
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Press releases
EDA
Erika Schläppi of Switzerland has been elected to an initial maiden term on the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women for 2025–28. She will be the second Swiss woman to serve in this capacity.
07.06.2024
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Press releases
EDA
After 2010, 2014 and 2019, Switzerland has been elected for the fourth time to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the 2025–26 term. ECOSOC is one of the UN's main bodies in the field of sustainable development.
04.06.2024
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Press releases
EDA
Heavy rain has caused flooding in northern Armenia, leading to considerable loss of life and destruction of property. Water and mud levels reached almost two metres in some areas and destroyed a large number of homes and infrastructure. At the request of the Armenian authorities, Switzerland is deploying specialists from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit to the affected areas. In particular, they will be responsible for assessing the structural soundness of bridges and other infrastructure. Switzerland has earmarked up to CHF 500,000 to support efforts on the ground.
14.06.2024 —
Press releases
EDA
Armed conflicts, forced displacement and natural disasters mean that more and more children have no or only limited access to education. At its meeting on 14 June 2024, the Federal Council therefore decided to continue supporting the United Nations Education Cannot Wait (ECW) fund, which is committed to providing access to education in emergency situations and protracted crises. For the 2025–28 period, the Federal Council approved a contribution of CHF 33.3 million to the ECW, which Switzerland has supported with CHF 40 million since 2019.
12.06.2024 —
Press releases
EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis received Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi in Bern on 12 June 2024. The discussions focused on the safety of Ukraine's nuclear facilities and Switzerland's support for the IAEA's work in Ukraine. The meeting is part of a series of high-level exchanges with the IAEA, and underscores the importance that Switzerland attaches to nuclear safety and security and to the IAEA as a whole, particularly in the context of the war in Ukraine.
12.06.2024 —
Press releases
EDA
President Viola Amherd met Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Luís Montenegro on Wednesday, 12 June. The talks in Bern focused on the countries’ close bilateral relations, European policy, the upcoming summit on peace in Ukraine and cooperation between Switzerland and Portugal at multilateral level.
10.06.2024 —
Press releases
EDA
Switzerland has been supporting the recovery and reconstruction process in Ukraine since the start of the war. In line with this commitment, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will attend the third Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) in Berlin on 11 and 12 June 2024, following on from the URCs in Lugano (2022) and London (2023). The Berlin conference will focus, among other things, on private sector involvement, social aspects and the promotion of local and regional development.
10.06.2024 —
Press releases
EDA
90 states and organisations have so far registered to attend the summit on peace in Ukraine at the Bürgenstock (NW) on 15/16 June. The aim of the high-level meeting of heads of state and government is to develop a common understanding for a possible path towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. This will then form the basis for a peace process. On 10 June, President Viola Amherd, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis and Nidwalden Cantonal Councillor Karin Kayser-Frutschi, together with Stephan Grieder, head of operations and chief of the Nidwalden Cantonal Police, and Major General Daniel Keller, Commander of Territorial Division 2, gave a briefing on the state of preparations and security measures.
07.06.2024 —
Press releases
EDA
At its meeting on 7 June, the Federal Council decided to continue supporting Ukraine in the areas of digitalisation and e-governance, approving CHF 58.7 million for this purpose over the next four years. Switzerland is thus promoting democratic reforms in Ukraine through digitalisation and at the same time increasing the transparency of state-provided services. Both areas are of crucial importance for Ukraine to rebuild.
07.06.2024 —
Press releases
EDA
The Summit on Peace in Ukraine will take place on 15 and 16 June 2024 at the Bürgenstock resort in the canton of Nidwalden. A major security operation is in place to ensure the safety of the event and those attending. At its meeting on 7 June 2024, the Federal Council decided to consider the summit an 'extraordinary event'. This means that the Confederation will contribute to the security costs borne by the canton of Nidwalden.
07.06.2024 —
Press releases
EDA
The Federal Council appointed David Grichting as the new head of the Directorate for Resources (DR) of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) in its meeting on 7 June 2024. David Grichting currently heads the FDFA’s Consular Directorate (CD). He will take up his new post on 1 January 2025 succeeding to Tania Cavassini, who has been appointed ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the French Republic and the Principality of Monaco by the Federal Council. The FDFA will appoint a selection committee to
to evaluate candidates to succeed David Grichting.
07.06.2024 —
Press releases
EDA
Erika Schläppi of Switzerland has been elected to an initial maiden term on the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women for 2025–28. She will be the second Swiss woman to serve in this capacity.
07.06.2024 —
Press releases
EDA
After 2010, 2014 and 2019, Switzerland has been elected for the fourth time to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the 2025–26 term. ECOSOC is one of the UN's main bodies in the field of sustainable development.
04.06.2024 —
Press releases
EDA
Heavy rain has caused flooding in northern Armenia, leading to considerable loss of life and destruction of property. Water and mud levels reached almost two metres in some areas and destroyed a large number of homes and infrastructure. At the request of the Armenian authorities, Switzerland is deploying specialists from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit to the affected areas. In particular, they will be responsible for assessing the structural soundness of bridges and other infrastructure. Switzerland has earmarked up to CHF 500,000 to support efforts on the ground.
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.
The COP21 climate conference is taking place in Paris from 30 November to 11 December 2015 and will be attended by a Swiss delegation. Pio Wennubst, Assistant Director General of the SDC, describes Switzerland's contribution to the conference and its activities in the field of climate change, and explains why climate change is a particular challenge for developing countries.
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.
The Nansen Initiative, launched by Switzerland and Norway in 2012, will present its findings on 12-13 October in Geneva. For three years its members collected best practices from states that have faced an influx of people displaced by disasters. Walter Kälin, a professor of public international law at the University of Bern who also serves as Envoy of the Chairmanship of the Nansen Initiative, describes the consultation process and discusses the next steps.
Adopted 15 years ago, UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security is based on the belief that the participation of women in peace processes is conducive to achieving pragmatic solutions and offers a more sustainable route to peace and individual security. Switzerland was one of the first countries to work towards implementing the resolution and wishes to reaffirm its pioneering role in this regard. An international review conference held in Geneva on 9 September 2015 provided an opportunity to take stock.
In conflict situations, the food security of victims goes hand in hand with the safety of aid workers. This in a nutshell is the message that Switzerland and the United Nations wanted to get across at the event they co-organised at Expo Milano on Wednesday 19 August 2015. A "humanitarian parade" was the highlight of the day.
International Youth Day has been celebrated globally since 2000. It provides an opportunity to hear what the young men and women who benefit from and partner the SDC have to say. In Lebanon, Central America, Zimbabwe and in Bosnia and Herzegovina, young people are committed to bringing about a better, more equitable and more secure world.
The Third International Conference on Financing for Development took place in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa from 13 to 16 July 2015. The international community agreed on a framework to implement and finance sustainable development. Ambassador Michael Gerber was chief negotiator in the Swiss delegation. In an interview he describes the negotiations and their results.
The Travel Advice service is an important source of information for anyone going on holiday abroad. The staff of the FDFA Helpline is available to assist Swiss citizens in distress in the event of problems that occur at the destination. Here Hans Peter Heiniger, head of the Helpline, points out some basic precautions to ensure an undisrupted holiday.
The earthquake in Nepal also caused substantial damage to the Swiss embassy in Kathmandu. In this interview, the Swiss ambassador in Nepal, Urs Herren, explains how he experienced the earthquake, how the embassy functioned during the crisis and what the earthquake means for Switzerland's long-standing commitment in Nepal.