News

Address by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) at the 2025 Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipation Summit (GESDA) – Check against delivery

In view of the imminent signing of a MoU on mobility systems, Switzerland and India initialled on October 15 the text of the MoU in presence of Hon’ble Minister Nitin Gadkari, Swiss Ambassador Maya Tissafi and Assistant State Secretary Martin Saladin, Vice Director and head of SECO's Promotion Activities Directorate, and a delegation of more than 20 Swiss mobility companies. The agreement, which was approved by the Federal Council on 8 October, will facilitate access for Swiss companies to major projects in the Indian transport sector.

You could be interested by new pages which have been published on the OFCOM website between 01.10.2025 and 14.10.2025.

As part of the FDFA's periodic transfer rotation and on the basis of appointments made by the Federal Council, personnel changes and the conferment of ambassadorial titles will take place in 2025 and 2026 at several Swiss representations and at the head office of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA).

Switzerland will take part in the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha from 4 to 6 November. The aim of this summit organised by the United Nations is to renew the international community’s commitments in the field of social development and to give fresh impetus to efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda. On 15 October, the Federal Council appointed a delegation comprising various stakeholders, which will be headed by SECO Director, State Secretary Helene Budliger Artieda.

From 1 January 2026, the annual federal contribution to regional and local print media will rise to CHF 40 million, an increase of CHF 10 million. This was decided by the Federal Council at its meeting on 15 October. The decision implements the resolution passed by Parliament on parliamentary initiative 22.423 Bulliard-Marbach.

At its meeting on 15 October 2025, the Federal Council discussed measures to strengthen the involvement of the cantons and Parliament in Switzerland's foreign policy on the Swiss–EU package. Next steps for concluding an arrangement with the cantons and expanding information mechanisms for the parliamentary committees were also set out. These proposals will be included in the Federal Council dispatch expected to be submitted to Parliament in March 2026.

At its meeting on 15 October 2025, the Federal Council launched the consultation on draft legislation to combat money laundering. Under the proposed legislation details of the register of beneficial owners and the extension of the Anti-Money Laundering Act to cover certain consultancy activities will be defined at ordinance level. The consultation will last until 30 January 2026.

OFCOM published the fourth issue of its comic series Stories from Everyday Digital Life. In 12 new stories, the fictional Webster family encourages the public to be careful in the networked world. Pupils, teachers, parents and other readers can order print copies of the comic free of charge or download it online at www.websters.swiss. It is published in all four national languages and in English.

Switzerland has been supporting Greece since 2022 as part of its second contribution in the area of migration. During his visit to Athens on 13 and 14 October, State Secretary for Migration Vincenzo Mascioli signed an agreement with Greece's Minister of Migration Thanos Plevris to continue this support. State Secretary Mascioli also visited projects supported by Switzerland in Athens and on the island of Lesbos, and exchanged views with the Greek migration authorities and representatives of non-governmental organisations.

From 15 to 17 October 2025, the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA) summit will bring together around a thousand researchers, diplomats, ministers, representatives of the private sector and philanthropists to discuss the challenges posed by new technologies and their impact on people's lives. In his speech, the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs will highlight the work that science and diplomacy do together in facilitating discussions between states when they need to define rules for the use of new technologies. These types of negotiations often take place in Geneva.

Damage to the cornea affects millions of people worldwide. Empa researchers are working on a transparent, biocompatible implant from the 3D printer. This allows defects to be repaired seamlessly and permanently.