The FDFA, headed by Ignazio Cassis, determines and coordinates Swiss foreign policy on behalf of the Federal Council. The FDFA consists of the organisational units at head office in Bern and the network of Swiss representations, which includes embassies, consulates, cooperation offices and missions.
Organisation of the FDFA
Federal Palace West Wing: General Secretariat, State Secretariat, Directorate of Political Affairs
Federal Palace East Wing: Directorate for European Affairs
Bundesgasse: General Secretariat, State Secretariat, Directorate of Political Affairs, Directorate for Resources
Effingerstrasse 43: Consular Directorate, Directorate of Political Affairs, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
Federal Palace North Wing: Directorate of International Law
Freiburgstrasse: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Directorate for Resources
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) determines and coordinates Swiss foreign policy on behalf of the Federal Council, pursues the set foreign policy objectives, safeguards Switzerland’s national interests and promotes Swiss values. Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis took office as head of the FDFA on 1 November 2017.
The FDFA has some 170 representations around the world. The representations abroad include embassies, consulates, cooperation offices and permanent missions to international organisations.
The FDFA head office in Bern is home to the General Secretariat, State Secretariat, six directorates and a number of autonomous divisions. The directorates perform their work through organisational units based at head office in Bern and through the external network of representations.
