02.05.2022 —
Press release
EDA
President of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis will travel to the Vatican on 6 May 2022, where he will take part in the swearing-in of the new Swiss Guard and meet Pope Francis and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the secretary for relations with states. The Swiss president's visit will also be an opportunity to present the new Swiss embassy to the Holy See.
02.05.2022 —
Press release
EDA
Two Council of Europe delegations will visit Switzerland from 2 to 6 May 2022 to review the implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. The meetings will focus on the situation of Swiss communities recognised as national minorities, i.e. national linguistic minorities, Yenish, Sinti and Manouches, as well as members of the Jewish community. Topics will also include language policy, in particular efforts to promote Italian and Romansh, as well as the challenges that Switzerland's multilingual cantons are facing.
29.04.2022 —
Press release
EDA
Today, President of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis, accompanied by authorities from Zurich and Ticino, launched Innovation Day, which spotlighted the network of innovation within Switzerland and beyond its borders as part of a train trip. Pursuing the axis of Zurich, Ticino and Milan, he visited Innovation Park in Dübendorf and Tecnopolo Ticino in Manno. At the end of the trip, the president was received at House of Switzerland Milano for its inauguration. There, he had an exchange with Italy's foreign minister, Luigi di Maio, and minister for technological innovation, Vittorio Colao.
28.04.2022 —
Press release
EDA
A delegation from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe will be in Switzerland from 30 April to 3 May 2022. The aim of the visit by Congress President Leendert Verbeek is to present Swiss federalism in situ to the Strasbourg institution. David Eray, the president of the Cantonal Council of Jura and head of the Swiss delegation to the Congress, along with various representatives of the FDFA, will accompany the delegation. In addition to attending the Landsgemeinde in Glarus, the programme will include meetings with FDFA State Secretary Livia Leu, the mayor of Bern, Alec von Graffenried, the Conference of Cantonal Governments, the Swiss Union of Cities and the Association of Swiss Communes.
28.04.2022 —
Press release
EDA
On Thursday, 28 April, President Ignazio Cassis met with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss in London. President Cassis was also invited to pay a courtesy visit to Queen Elizabeth II. Switzerland and the United Kingdom signed a joint declaration on the further development of their bilateral partnership and agreed to deepen cooperation in the field of science. They confirmed the launch of exploratory talks to modernise the existing trade agreement. Key topics of discussion included Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine and its consequences, as well as Switzerland's and the UK's relations with the European Union.
26.04.2022 —
Press release
EDA
From 1 May 2022, Switzerland will also represent the consular interests of the Principality of Liechtenstein at selected locations where Liechtenstein itself operates a representation. This is another sign of the close relations that exist between the two countries. On 18 March 2022, the Federal Council gave its approval for the conclusion of an agreement with Liechtenstein.
26.04.2022 —
Press release
EDA
The decentralised Swiss school system has particular strengths which can serve as inspiration for Switzerland's development cooperation work. At a policy conference held in Bern on 26 April 2022, experts discussed how the strengths of the Swiss school system can be used to greater effect in Switzerland's international cooperation work, and thus improve standards of education and prospects for children across the globe.
25.04.2022 —
Press release
EDA
President Ignazio Cassis will travel to London this week where he will meet with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Foreign Minister Elizabeth Truss on Thursday, 28 April. The two sides will discuss ways of deepening bilateral relations. Other topics on the agenda include Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine and its consequences, as well as the policies of Switzerland and the UK with regard to Europe.
21.04.2022 —
Press release
EDA
President Cassis rounded off his visit to Japan on Thursday, 21 April, by delivering an address on the link between science and diplomacy to students at Kyoto University. The focus of the visit was on the war in Ukraine and bilateral relations in the areas of political, economic and scientific affairs. A cooperation agreement on joint research projects was signed and a groundbreaking ceremony was held for a new Swissnex location.
18.04.2022 —
Press release
EDA
On Monday, 18 April, President Ignazio Cassis met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi in Tokyo. On the agenda were the war in Ukraine and the related security challenges in Europe and Asia. Other topics included the tasks of both countries in international organisations and cooperation in trade and science.
14.04.2022 —
Press release
EDA
President Ignazio Cassis will travel to Japan next week. He will be accompanied by a business and scientific delegation. The visit includes stops in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. Political discussions with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi in Tokyo will take place on Monday, 18 April. In Osaka, the focus will be on the new Swissnex site and the Expo 2025. The stop in Kyoto will be devoted mainly to science cooperation.
13.04.2022 —
Press release
EDA
The international community views artificial intelligence (AI) as a key technology with geopolitical implications. On 13 April 2022, the Federal Council took note of the report 'Artificial Intelligence and International Rules'. The report sets out various measures to allow Switzerland to play an active role in shaping and contributing to an appropriate global set of AI rules.