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Press release

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.

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50th anniversary of International Lake Constance Conference: President Cassis to strengthen cross-border cooperation

14.01.2022 — Press release EDA
On Friday, 14 January, the German, Austrian, Liechtenstein and Swiss representatives of the cantons and federal states that are a part of the International Lake Constance Conference (IBK) met on Mount Säntis to celebrate the Conference's 50th anniversary. President Ignazio Cassis also attended the event. The aim of the IBK is to promote cross-border cooperation in the Lake Constance area and to strengthen relations between the four neighbouring countries and regions near the border.

SDC and Swiss National Science Foundation launch development programme for transdisciplinary research, innovation and sustainability

13.01.2022 — Press release EDA
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) are jointly launching a new applied research programme focused on the fight against poverty and on sustainable development. The programme, undertaken in partnership with organisations directly involved in development, is aimed at researchers from Switzerland and the Global South. The SDC will contribute approximately CHF 19 million to the programme, set to run from 2022 to 2026. Research and innovation are key to achieving the objectives of the International Cooperation Strategy 2021–24.

President Cassis on first visit to Vienna

13.01.2022 — Press release EDA
On Thursday, 13 January 2022, the President of the Swiss Confederation, Ignazio Cassis, travelled to Vienna for his first official visit. There he was received by Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and exchanged views with Chancellor Karl Nehammer and the president of the Austrian National Council, Wolfgang Sobotka. Talks focused on bilateral relations, namely the strategic partnership that the two countries adopted last year, as well as on relations between Switzerland and the EU. Other major topics discussed were pan-European and international challenges. The trip to Vienna marks a decades-old tradition of each new Swiss and Austrian president making their first trip abroad to each other’s country, a sign of the friendly relationship between Switzerland and its Alpine neighbour.

Switzerland presents action plan for a more effective OSCE by 2025

13.01.2022 — Press release EDA
President of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis has met with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen on his first official trip abroad. In Vienna, Mr Cassis also visited the Secretariat of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), where he spoke with the new chairman of the OSCE, polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau and with Secretary General Helga Schmid. At these meetings he presented Switzerland's action plan for the OSCE 2022–25.

President Ignazio Cassis to visit Vienna and Berlin

11.01.2022 — Press release EDA
In the next ten days President Ignazio Cassis will meet with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Liechtenstein's Prime Minister Daniel Risch. The visit to Vienna on Thursday continues a decades-old tradition of each new Swiss and Austrian president making their first trip abroad to each other’s country. Talks will focus on the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries and Switzerland's European policy.

Drought in Madagascar: Switzerland provides additional contribution of CHF 900,000

29.12.2021 — Press release EDA
Switzerland is making an additional contribution of CHF 900,000 to help deal with the serious food crisis in Madagascar. In releasing this sum, which is intended to support the activities of the World Food Programme (WFP), Switzerland is responding to a recent joint appeal by the government of Madagascar and the UN for international aid. Alarming situations are also unfolding in many other countries where millions of people lack food because of armed conflict, economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects of climate change. In 2021, Switzerland provided a total of CHF 100 million – a new record – to support the WFP's activities, primarily in Africa.

Further development of military peace support: Implementation status

17.12.2021 — Press release EDA
The Federal Council wants to further develop Switzerland's participation in military peace support and place even greater emphasis on high-quality contributions. The DDPS drew up a report containing concrete recommendations on this issue in November 2020, and the Federal Council instructed the DDPS and the FDFA to implement these recommendations. At its meeting on 17 December 2021, the Federal Council took note of the progress made so far and instructed the DDPS to submit by October 2022 a bill for consultation regarding partial revision of the Armed Forces Act.

'Geneva, city of peace', Europe and referendums: Switzerland seen from abroad in 2021

16.12.2021 — Press release EDA
Political topics dominated foreign media coverage of Switzerland in 2021. The highlight of the year was the summit between US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva. Here, Switzerland presented itself as a bridge-builder. In contrast, developments in Swiss-EU relations attracted negative attention. Two referendums also received a lot of international coverage. Switzerland continues to enjoy a generally very good reputation abroad, according to the Nation Brand Index (NBI).

Global Compact on Refugees: Switzerland keeps its word

14.12.2021 — Press release EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis today opened the High-Level Officials Meeting on the Global Compact on Refugees. Speaking remotely, he emphasised the initiatives implemented by Switzerland to follow up on commitments made at the 2019 Global Refugee Forum. The meeting was co-organised by Switzerland and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and aims to review actions undertaken to bolster support for displaced persons and their host countries. The vast majority of the world's 26 million refugees live in countries bordering crisis areas.

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Last update 08.01.2022