Post-earthquake relief in Turkey and Syria: Switzerland provides CHF 8,5 million for affected population

20.03.2023 — Press release EDA
The Swiss Confederation is extending its support to the populations of the earthquake-hit regions of Turkey and Syria. At the international donors' conference in Brussels, held to secure support for the people of Turkey and Syria in the aftermath of the earthquakes, Manuel Bessler, the Federal Council's delegate for humanitarian aid, announced that Switzerland would contribute CHF 8,5 million towards relief efforts in the affected areas.

Plan agreed in Geneva for the release of prisoners of war in Yemen

20.03.2023 — Press release EDA
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) welcomes the positive outcome of the negotiations that were held in the canton of Bern. The plan, agred this afternoon at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, was concluded thanks to facilitation by the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Switzerland supports the UN peace process in Yemen as part of its good offices policy.

SDC prolongs support for Kantha Bopha children's hospitals in Cambodia for five more years

17.03.2023 — Press release EDA
The Kantha Bopha children's hospitals, founded by Dr Beat Richner in 1992, have made a major contribution to improving the health system in Cambodia over the past 30 years. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has backed these efforts since the very beginning and will continue to support the hospitals until 2027. On March 17, 2023, SDC Director General Patricia Danzi signed an agreement to this effect with the Kantha Bopha Foundation.

New Swiss ambassadors

17.03.2023 — Press release EDA
A number of staff changes and conferments of ambassadorial titles have been announced for 2023 for several Swiss representations abroad and at the head office of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) as part of the usual transfer rotation and on the basis of appointments made by the Federal Council at its meeting on March 17, 2023.

Foreign policy, economic affairs, human rights: FDFA State Secretary Livia Leu holds political consultations in South Africa

09.03.2023 — Press release EDA
The state secretary of the FDFA, Livia Leu, met with South Africa's deputy minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Alvin Botes, in Pretoria today for political consultations. The focus was on foreign policy issues as well as bilateral matters in the areas of business, human rights and education, research and innovation. South Africa is a priority country of the Federal Council's Foreign Policy Strategy 2020–23 and Switzerland’s most important economic partner in Africa.

Switzerland pledges 15 million francs to the Bamboo-UNCDF Initiative for the Least Developed (BUILD) Fund

09.03.2023 — Press release EDA
Private Sector Engagement (PSE) is highlighted in the Swiss International Cooperation Strategy 2021–24 as an important modality to achieve sustainable development and poverty reduction. As part of the ambition to partner with the private sector in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) committed 15 million Swiss francs for the Bamboo-UNCDF Initiative for the Least Developed (BUILD) Fund.

'Francesca Pometta' room in Federal Palace to celebrate the history of women diplomats

07.03.2023 — Press release EDA
Francesca Pometta, of Ticino origin, was the first Swiss woman to be appointed ambassador. She was a trailblazer who paved the way for women in the Swiss diplomatic service – and the number of women diplomats has been growing ever since. A room in the Federal Palace West, which houses the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), now bears her name. The inauguration took place on 7 March on the occasion of International Women's Day in the presence of Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis.

UN Commission on the Status of Women: Switzerland highlights importance of digitalisation for gender equality

06.03.2023 — Press release EDA
The 67th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) opens on 6 March 2023 in New York with the theme 'Innovation and technological change – education in the digital age'. Switzerland's particular focus is on initiatives to promote women's and girls' access to technology and innovation, and to guard against cyber violence. The president of the Swiss Confederation, Alain Berset, will be heading the Swiss delegation and will speak at the CSW on 6 March. On 7 March, he will deliver a speech to the UN Security Council on women, peace and security.

House of Switzerland in northern Italy – at the heart of the Alps and our national interests

03.03.2023 — Press release EDA
At its meeting of 3 March 2023, the Federal Council has decided to capitalise on the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina as a platform to promote Switzerland and its national interests. Northern Italy is one of Switzerland's most important neighbouring regions in economic terms. The House of Switzerland will focus on sustainability and innovation as well as the Alps as a common living and economic space.

Chile's Foreign Minister Antonia Urrejola in Switzerland for official visit

01.03.2023 — Press release EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), received the Chilean Foreign Minister Antonia Urrejola Noguera today in Murten, canton of Fribourg, for an official working visit. The discussions focused on bilateral relations, particularly economic relations, as well as cooperation in environmental, multilateral and other matters.

Ignazio Cassis opens UN Human Rights Council on anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights and war in Ukraine

27.02.2023 — Press release EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the FDFA, opened the 52nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva today. In his speech, he reiterated his strong condemnation of Russia's aggression against Ukraine and massive violation of human rights, international humanitarian law and the UN Charter. This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Switzerland pledges CHF 14.5 million for humanitarian aid in Yemen in 2023

27.02.2023 — Press release EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis opened the high-level donor conference on the crisis in Yemen in Geneva today, together with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Sweden's Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell. He announced CHF 14.5 million in financial support for humanitarian aid on the ground. After years of war, the people of Yemen are facing extremely dire living conditions.

Post-earthquake relief in Turkey and Syria: Switzerland provides CHF 8,5 million for affected population

20.03.2023 — Press release EDA
The Swiss Confederation is extending its support to the populations of the earthquake-hit regions of Turkey and Syria. At the international donors' conference in Brussels, held to secure support for the people of Turkey and Syria in the aftermath of the earthquakes, Manuel Bessler, the Federal Council's delegate for humanitarian aid, announced that Switzerland would contribute CHF 8,5 million towards relief efforts in the affected areas.

Plan agreed in Geneva for the release of prisoners of war in Yemen

20.03.2023 — Press release EDA
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) welcomes the positive outcome of the negotiations that were held in the canton of Bern. The plan, agred this afternoon at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, was concluded thanks to facilitation by the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Switzerland supports the UN peace process in Yemen as part of its good offices policy.

SDC prolongs support for Kantha Bopha children's hospitals in Cambodia for five more years

17.03.2023 — Press release EDA
The Kantha Bopha children's hospitals, founded by Dr Beat Richner in 1992, have made a major contribution to improving the health system in Cambodia over the past 30 years. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has backed these efforts since the very beginning and will continue to support the hospitals until 2027. On March 17, 2023, SDC Director General Patricia Danzi signed an agreement to this effect with the Kantha Bopha Foundation.

New Swiss ambassadors

17.03.2023 — Press release EDA
A number of staff changes and conferments of ambassadorial titles have been announced for 2023 for several Swiss representations abroad and at the head office of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) as part of the usual transfer rotation and on the basis of appointments made by the Federal Council at its meeting on March 17, 2023.

Foreign policy, economic affairs, human rights: FDFA State Secretary Livia Leu holds political consultations in South Africa

09.03.2023 — Press release EDA
The state secretary of the FDFA, Livia Leu, met with South Africa's deputy minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Alvin Botes, in Pretoria today for political consultations. The focus was on foreign policy issues as well as bilateral matters in the areas of business, human rights and education, research and innovation. South Africa is a priority country of the Federal Council's Foreign Policy Strategy 2020–23 and Switzerland’s most important economic partner in Africa.

Switzerland pledges 15 million francs to the Bamboo-UNCDF Initiative for the Least Developed (BUILD) Fund

09.03.2023 — Press release EDA
Private Sector Engagement (PSE) is highlighted in the Swiss International Cooperation Strategy 2021–24 as an important modality to achieve sustainable development and poverty reduction. As part of the ambition to partner with the private sector in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) committed 15 million Swiss francs for the Bamboo-UNCDF Initiative for the Least Developed (BUILD) Fund.

'Francesca Pometta' room in Federal Palace to celebrate the history of women diplomats

07.03.2023 — Press release EDA
Francesca Pometta, of Ticino origin, was the first Swiss woman to be appointed ambassador. She was a trailblazer who paved the way for women in the Swiss diplomatic service – and the number of women diplomats has been growing ever since. A room in the Federal Palace West, which houses the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), now bears her name. The inauguration took place on 7 March on the occasion of International Women's Day in the presence of Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis.

UN Commission on the Status of Women: Switzerland highlights importance of digitalisation for gender equality

06.03.2023 — Press release EDA
The 67th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) opens on 6 March 2023 in New York with the theme 'Innovation and technological change – education in the digital age'. Switzerland's particular focus is on initiatives to promote women's and girls' access to technology and innovation, and to guard against cyber violence. The president of the Swiss Confederation, Alain Berset, will be heading the Swiss delegation and will speak at the CSW on 6 March. On 7 March, he will deliver a speech to the UN Security Council on women, peace and security.

House of Switzerland in northern Italy – at the heart of the Alps and our national interests

03.03.2023 — Press release EDA
At its meeting of 3 March 2023, the Federal Council has decided to capitalise on the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina as a platform to promote Switzerland and its national interests. Northern Italy is one of Switzerland's most important neighbouring regions in economic terms. The House of Switzerland will focus on sustainability and innovation as well as the Alps as a common living and economic space.

Chile's Foreign Minister Antonia Urrejola in Switzerland for official visit

01.03.2023 — Press release EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), received the Chilean Foreign Minister Antonia Urrejola Noguera today in Murten, canton of Fribourg, for an official working visit. The discussions focused on bilateral relations, particularly economic relations, as well as cooperation in environmental, multilateral and other matters.

Ignazio Cassis opens UN Human Rights Council on anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights and war in Ukraine

27.02.2023 — Press release EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the FDFA, opened the 52nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva today. In his speech, he reiterated his strong condemnation of Russia's aggression against Ukraine and massive violation of human rights, international humanitarian law and the UN Charter. This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Switzerland pledges CHF 14.5 million for humanitarian aid in Yemen in 2023

27.02.2023 — Press release EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis opened the high-level donor conference on the crisis in Yemen in Geneva today, together with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Sweden's Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell. He announced CHF 14.5 million in financial support for humanitarian aid on the ground. After years of war, the people of Yemen are facing extremely dire living conditions.

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.

Call for Proposals 2022

14.01.2022 — Local news Ireland

"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.

Call for Proposals 2021

28.01.2021 — Local news Ireland

The Embassy of Switzerland in Ireland is pleased to announce the second call for project proposals in the field of human security. In accordance with Switzerland’s foreign policy priorities in the field of peace and security, the Embassy is particularly interested in projects aiming at fostering reconciliation and the building of constructive relationships among communities. All applicants should submit their proposals to the e-mail address dublin@eda.admin.ch by Sunday, 28th February 2021.

Download Call for Proposals 2021 (PDF, 1 Page, 220.4 kB, English)

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.

National Day Message from the President of the Swiss Confederation

30.07.2020 — Ireland
Message from the President of the Swiss Confederation Simonetta Sommaruga to the Swiss abroad on the occasion of the National Day.

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.

Call for Proposals 2020

14.01.2020 — Local news Ireland

The Embassy of Switzerland in Ireland is pleased to announce the first call for project proposals in the field of human security. In accordance with Switzerland’s foreign policy priorities in the field of peace and security and sustainable development, the Embassy is particularly interested in projects aiming at fostering reconciliation and the building of constructive relationships among communities. All applicants should submit their proposals to the e-mail address dublin@eda.admin.ch by Sunday, 16^th February 2020.

Call for Proposals 2020 (PDF, 1 Page, 78.6 kB, English)