Press releases

Meeting with Ukraine's prime minister

28.08.2025 — Press releases EDA
Karin Keller-Sutter, President of the Swiss Confederation, hosted Yuliia Svyrydenko, Prime Minister of Ukraine, for a courtesy visit on 28 August 2025 in Bern. The talks focused on the peace process and the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Swiss diplomats meet in Bern to discuss foreign policy challenges

18.08.2025 — Press releases EDA
The Ambassadors and International Network Conference will take place from 18 to 22 August 2025 in Bern. This unique platform enables diplomats to exchange views on the geopolitical context and to engage with one another directly on Swiss domestic policy. The vice-president of Italy's Council of Ministers and minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, Antonio Tajani, has been invited by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis to attend the event.

Wildfires in Montenegro: Switzerland deploys emergency support mission

15.08.2025 — Press releases EDA
After Montenegro was hit by violent forest fires threatening the capital Podgorica and several other regions, Switzerland has deployed an emergency mission under the auspices of the FDFA with the support of the Geneva fire and rescue service. The aim of the mission is to support the local authorities in their fight against the blazes and strengthen the resources already mobilised.

Humanitarian crisis in Sudan: the FDFA steps up its emergency aid

15.08.2025 — Press releases EDA
The humanitarian situation in Sudan is deteriorating rapidly, with famine affecting the population of Al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur, as reported by the World Food Programme (WFP). In response to this crisis, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is allocatig CHF 4 million from its budget to the UN's Sudan Humanitarian Fund.

Sanctions: Federal Council extends humanitarian exemptions

13.08.2025 — Press releases EDA
The Federal Council is strengthening measures to protect humanitarian activities in numerous sanctions ordinances. Among other things, it is introducing humanitarian exemptions in line with UN sanctions. At the same time, it has standardised and clarified various financial regulations. The amendments will enter into force on 15 September.

Official meeting between Head of the FDFA Ignazio Cassis and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy at the Locarno Film Festival

11.08.2025 — Press releases EDA
At the invitation of Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, Foreign Secretary David Lammy made an official visit to Locarno, his first to Switzerland. The meeting between the two foreign ministers served as an opportunity to discuss the excellent bilateral relations between Switzerland and the United Kingdom, as well as a number of topical issues in European and international affairs. They then attended Diplomacy Day, a long-standing event at the Locarno Film Festival.

UN conference on the Middle East: Switzerland calls emphatically for diplomatic steps towards a two-state solution

30.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
At the UN conference on the two-state solution which took place from 28 to 30 July 2025 in New York, Switzerland called for respect for international humanitarian law by all parties, including the unhindered provision of humanitarian aid to the people of the Gaza Strip and the release of all hostages, an immediate and lasting ceasefire and serious diplomatic efforts to implement the two-state solution. Around 120 states attended the conference.

Switzerland to take part in high-level conference on Middle East and two-state solution

25.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
France and Saudi Arabia will co-chair the high-level international conference to promote a lasting peace in the Middle East and the implementation of the two-state solution. The conference will be held from 28 to 30 July 2025 in New York, under the auspices of the United Nations. Switzerland will be taking part alongside numerous international partners.

UN Sustainable Development Goals: Switzerland calls on all stakeholders to step up cooperation

18.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
This year's High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) is taking place from 14 to 23 July 2025 at the UN headquarters in New York. The Swiss delegation is being led by Markus Reubi, the Federal Council Delegate for the 2030 Agenda at the FDFA and will focus on economic growth and decent work.

State Secretary for Security Policy to travel to Chisinau for security policy dialogue with Moldova

17.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
Markus Mäder, State Secretary for Security Policy, will hold talks on current security policy developments and bilateral cooperation with his counterparts in Chisinau (Moldova) from 17 to 18 July.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis at ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Conference: global security and bilateral relations at centre of talks

11.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
On 10 and 11 July, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis attended the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Malaysia. His participation underlines South East Asia's growing economic importance to Switzerland. Mr Cassis used the platform to discuss economic ties, bilateral relations and global challenges with his counterparts from Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore. For the first time, he also met the new Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand on the margins of the conference.

Victims of National Socialism: Call for proposals to design the memorial in Bern

11.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
In April 2023, the Federal Council decided to establish a memorial in the centre of Bern for the victims of National Socialism. The Federal Council considers it vital to keep alive the memory of the consequences of National Socialism, as well as the fate of the six million Jews and all other victims of the Nazi regime. On the recommendation of the communal parliament of the City of Bern, the Casinoterrasse near the Federal Parliament was selected as the location for the site of remembrance. A call is now being organised to gather proposals for the its creation from multidisciplinary teams in the fields of art, architecture and history.

Meeting with Ukraine's prime minister

28.08.2025 — Press releases EDA
Karin Keller-Sutter, President of the Swiss Confederation, hosted Yuliia Svyrydenko, Prime Minister of Ukraine, for a courtesy visit on 28 August 2025 in Bern. The talks focused on the peace process and the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Swiss diplomats meet in Bern to discuss foreign policy challenges

18.08.2025 — Press releases EDA
The Ambassadors and International Network Conference will take place from 18 to 22 August 2025 in Bern. This unique platform enables diplomats to exchange views on the geopolitical context and to engage with one another directly on Swiss domestic policy. The vice-president of Italy's Council of Ministers and minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, Antonio Tajani, has been invited by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis to attend the event.

Wildfires in Montenegro: Switzerland deploys emergency support mission

15.08.2025 — Press releases EDA
After Montenegro was hit by violent forest fires threatening the capital Podgorica and several other regions, Switzerland has deployed an emergency mission under the auspices of the FDFA with the support of the Geneva fire and rescue service. The aim of the mission is to support the local authorities in their fight against the blazes and strengthen the resources already mobilised.

Humanitarian crisis in Sudan: the FDFA steps up its emergency aid

15.08.2025 — Press releases EDA
The humanitarian situation in Sudan is deteriorating rapidly, with famine affecting the population of Al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur, as reported by the World Food Programme (WFP). In response to this crisis, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is allocatig CHF 4 million from its budget to the UN's Sudan Humanitarian Fund.

Sanctions: Federal Council extends humanitarian exemptions

13.08.2025 — Press releases EDA
The Federal Council is strengthening measures to protect humanitarian activities in numerous sanctions ordinances. Among other things, it is introducing humanitarian exemptions in line with UN sanctions. At the same time, it has standardised and clarified various financial regulations. The amendments will enter into force on 15 September.

Official meeting between Head of the FDFA Ignazio Cassis and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy at the Locarno Film Festival

11.08.2025 — Press releases EDA
At the invitation of Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, Foreign Secretary David Lammy made an official visit to Locarno, his first to Switzerland. The meeting between the two foreign ministers served as an opportunity to discuss the excellent bilateral relations between Switzerland and the United Kingdom, as well as a number of topical issues in European and international affairs. They then attended Diplomacy Day, a long-standing event at the Locarno Film Festival.

UN conference on the Middle East: Switzerland calls emphatically for diplomatic steps towards a two-state solution

30.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
At the UN conference on the two-state solution which took place from 28 to 30 July 2025 in New York, Switzerland called for respect for international humanitarian law by all parties, including the unhindered provision of humanitarian aid to the people of the Gaza Strip and the release of all hostages, an immediate and lasting ceasefire and serious diplomatic efforts to implement the two-state solution. Around 120 states attended the conference.

Switzerland to take part in high-level conference on Middle East and two-state solution

25.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
France and Saudi Arabia will co-chair the high-level international conference to promote a lasting peace in the Middle East and the implementation of the two-state solution. The conference will be held from 28 to 30 July 2025 in New York, under the auspices of the United Nations. Switzerland will be taking part alongside numerous international partners.

UN Sustainable Development Goals: Switzerland calls on all stakeholders to step up cooperation

18.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
This year's High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) is taking place from 14 to 23 July 2025 at the UN headquarters in New York. The Swiss delegation is being led by Markus Reubi, the Federal Council Delegate for the 2030 Agenda at the FDFA and will focus on economic growth and decent work.

State Secretary for Security Policy to travel to Chisinau for security policy dialogue with Moldova

17.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
Markus Mäder, State Secretary for Security Policy, will hold talks on current security policy developments and bilateral cooperation with his counterparts in Chisinau (Moldova) from 17 to 18 July.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis at ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Conference: global security and bilateral relations at centre of talks

11.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
On 10 and 11 July, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis attended the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Malaysia. His participation underlines South East Asia's growing economic importance to Switzerland. Mr Cassis used the platform to discuss economic ties, bilateral relations and global challenges with his counterparts from Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore. For the first time, he also met the new Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand on the margins of the conference.

Victims of National Socialism: Call for proposals to design the memorial in Bern

11.07.2025 — Press releases EDA
In April 2023, the Federal Council decided to establish a memorial in the centre of Bern for the victims of National Socialism. The Federal Council considers it vital to keep alive the memory of the consequences of National Socialism, as well as the fate of the six million Jews and all other victims of the Nazi regime. On the recommendation of the communal parliament of the City of Bern, the Casinoterrasse near the Federal Parliament was selected as the location for the site of remembrance. A call is now being organised to gather proposals for the its creation from multidisciplinary teams in the fields of art, architecture and history.

The translation of Memoirs of Holocaust survivors into French is accomplished

27.11.2017 — Article EDA

On the occasion of the second plenary meeting under Swiss chairmanship of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) on 27^th November 2017, the translation of all the 15 memoirs of Holocaust survivors into French has been completed.

«Mit vereinten Kräften gegen das Leid in der Welt»

19.08.2017 — Article EDA

Beitrag von Bundesrat Didier Burkhalter zum Welttag der Humanitären Hilfe am 19. August 2017.

Swiss school students grapple with the memory of the Holocaust

14.07.2017 — Article EDA

In order to approach the difficult subject of the Holocaust, school teachers from Biel and Geneva asked their students to translate several notebook memoirs written by survivors. We met the students from Biel and Geneva and asked them what they took away from this experience.

Students from the French-speaking part of Switzerland translate Memoirs of Holocaust survivors

26.06.2017 — Article EDA

On the occasion of the first plenary meeting under Swiss chairmanship of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance on 26^th June in Geneva, students from Geneva and Bienne present the outcome of their work. They worked for many months to translate the Memoirs of the Holocaust survivors who live in Switzerland.

"Meetings between students and Holocaust survivors remain the best way of fighting Holocaust denial"

07.03.2017 — Article EDA

This year, Switzerland is assuming the chairmanship of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. Its new chair, FDFA secretary general Benno Bättig, discusses his role, Switzerland's priorities and the importance of raising youth awareness.

Nominations, retirements and new ambassadors

03.03.2017 — EDA
A personnel change for the position of head of the Swiss representation in Nepal has been planned. It will coincide with the usual transfers for early 2018 in line with the decision taken by the Federal Council. The nomination will take effect as soon as the authorities of the host country have given their approval. The Federal Council would like to extend its warmest thanks to Ambassador Jörg Frieden for his service as he enters retirement.

The Human Rights Council: “human rights are a joint response to a harsher, more uncertain world”

27.02.2017 — EDA
"In a world which is turning in on itself, we perceive less of a desire for joint action and more of a calling into question of the international framework for human rights," said Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter on Monday in Geneva at the opening of the 34th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC). "And yet, human rights are precisely the strong response we need to the questions facing us in this harsher, more uncertain world," he said. Switzerland proposed three priorities to guide joint dialogue and action in favour of human rights: conflict prevention, a strengthening of collective capacities and the genuine implementation of the rights of every human being.

FDFA Helpline has answered 250,000 enquiries from Swiss citizens since 2011

24.02.2017 — EDA
What is the current security situation in Tunisia? How can I apply for a new Swiss passport? My identity card was stolen in Barcelona - what do I have to do to be able to board a flight home? My son has been involved in a traffic accident in Thailand - what can be done to help him? The FDFA Helpline answers these and many other enquiries around the clock by telephone and email. The 250,000th enquiry was received in the night of 23 to 24 February 2017.

Famine in Africa: Switzerland pledges CHF 15 million to support emergency relief

24.02.2017 — EDA
Switzerland has pledged to take direct action to help populations facing starvation, especially in South Sudan. The decision follows a call issued by the United Nations Secretary-General on 22 February 2017. Swiss Humanitarian Aid, a department of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), is to release CHF 15 million from its fund for humanitarian emergencies for countries hit by famine in the beginning of this year.

State Secretary Pascale Baeriswyl to coordinate negotiations with EU starting 1 April 2017

22.02.2017 — EDA
Pascale Baeriswyl will take over the coordination of Switzerland’s negotiations with the European Union (EU) from Jacques de Watteville. During its session on Wednesday 22 February 2017, the Federal Council tasked the State Secretary of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) with pursuing the coordination of the discussions with the EU, together with the negotiators in charge of different dossiers, as of 1 April.

New head of swissnex India and consul general of Switzerland in Bangalore

21.02.2017 — EDA
Sébastien Hug has been appointed head of swissnex India and consul general of Switzerland in Bangalore. He will take up his post in November 2017.

Munich Security Conference: Didier Burkhalter rates OSCE as a major actor for rebuilding trust in Europe

18.02.2017 — EDA
At the Munich Security Conference last Saturday, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter expressed the view that the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) now more than ever had a key role to play in strengthening security in Europe. The head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) called on members of the OSCE to advance common action to reduce uncertainty and rebuild trust through a structured dialogue within the framework of the OSCE.