News

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis's official visit to Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait ends today. Following his official visit to Jordan on 22 October, the head of the FDFA travelled to Iraq and Kuwait from 23 to 25 October. This trip to the Middle East gave the head of the FDFA an opportunity to discuss the geopolitical challenges facing the region, such as the situation in the Gaza Strip. These three official visits also highlight the new perspectives for political, economic and humanitarian cooperation in a region in motion.

As part of a humanitarian operation, Switzerland is evacuating an initial group of seven injured children from the Gaza Strip to Switzerland. The children and persons accompanying them will be hosted by seven Swiss cantons, where they will receive medical treatment at university and cantonal hospitals. They will also undergo an asylum procedure in Switzerland. The humanitarian operation has been jointly organised by several federal agencies and cantons, and is being carried out in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Swiss Air-Rescue Rega.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis travelled to Amman on 22 October for an official visit to Jordan. There he met with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, for in-depth discussions on regional political developments, the humanitarian situation in Gaza and bilateral cooperation between Switzerland and Jordan. The conflict in the Middle East and the US's 20-point peace plan were at the heart of the talks.

Address by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) – check against delivery

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will pay a two-day state visit to Switzerland next week at the invitation of the Federal Council, led by President Karin Keller-Sutter. The visit aims to underscore and further deepen the close and multifaceted relationship between the two countries. South Africa is strategically important for Switzerland and ranks among its most important partners on the African continent.

In Switzerland, 15% of people aged 16–65 have poor literacy, numeracy and adaptive problem-solving skills. This equates to around 844 000 individuals. Compared with the overall population, they are less likely to be employed and tend to earn less. They also report lower levels of well-being and social participation than people with higher skill levels. These are the findings of a new report by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) based on data from the OECD's Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC).

In view of the alarming number of femicides in Switzerland, the committee responsible for the implementation of the Istanbul Convention on combating violence against women and domestic violence defined three urgent measures in June, focusing on the prevention of violence and protection of victims. Yesterday, the committee, comprising representatives from the federal government, cantons and communes, took stock of the progress made in implementing these measures.

The Board of Directors has appointed Emmanuel Vauclair as the new Director of PUBLICA. He succeeds Doris Bianchi and will take up office on 1 May 2026. Emmanuel Vauclair is currently Managing Director of the SRG SSR Pension Fund.

At its meeting today, the Federal Council decided to capitalise on the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles to promote Switzerland and its interests. California is one of the leading regions in the US for innovation, cutting-edge technology and entrepreneurship. The House of Switzerland will shine a spotlight on Switzerland's strengths in the creative industries, the tech sector, sport and health.

During its meeting on 22 October 2025, the Federal Council launched the consultation on the Amending Protocol to the Agreement between Switzerland and the European Union (EU) on the automatic exchange of financial account information to improve international tax compliance. The Agreement will be aligned with the amended OECD standard and also contains new provisions on administrative assistance for the recovery of VAT claims.

During its meeting on 22 October 2025, the Federal Council initiated the consultation on an amendment to the Financial Institutions Act. The bill is aimed at improving the framework conditions for the market development, the attractiveness of the Swiss financial centre and integration of innovative financial technologies into the existing financial system. At the same time, it should mitigate related risks to financial stability, integrity, and investor and consumer protection. The consultation will run until 6 February 2026.

The UN sanctions committee has amended the list of sanctioned individuals, companies and organizations. The SESAM database has been updated accordingly. On 4 March 2016 the Federal Council has adopted the Ordinance on the automatic application of the UN Security Council’s sanctions lists. Hence, the amendments of the UN Security Council’s sanctions lists enter into force in Switzerland without delay.