DDPS - Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports of the Swiss Confederation

07/02/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/02/2026 02:25

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis to travel to The Hague

Press releasePublished on 2 July 2026

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis to travel to The Hague

Bern, 02.07.2026 - Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) Ignazio Cassis is to visit the Kingdom of the Netherlands on 3 and 4 July 2026. There he will meet his Dutch counterpart Tom Berendsen. Later, he will deliver a speech in his capacity as chairman-in-office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to the organisation's Parliamentary Assembly. Further discussions are planned with the Dutch authorities and with OSCE Parliamentary Assembly bodies, as well as with the Swiss parliamentary delegation.

The 33rd Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is being held in The Hague from 4 to 8 July. Its theme is 'International Law and Shared Principles: Foundations for Security and Co-operation in the OSCE Area'. The head of the FDFA will outline the key priorities of the Swiss OSCE Chairpersonship in a speech he will deliver at the opening session on 4 July.

The day before, Mr Cassis will meet Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Tom Berendsen for a working lunch. The meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss the positive bilateral relations between Switzerland and the Netherlands, progress on the package of agreements between Switzerland and the European Union, as well as the security situation in Europe and around the world.

Established in 1991, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly gathers representatives of the parliaments of OSCE member states. It meets in a plenary session in early July each year, and also holds annual winter and autumn meetings. Switzerland is represented by a parliamentary delegation, currently led by Member of the Council of States Thierry Burkart (Aargau/FDP.The Liberals). As chairman-in-office of the OSCE, Mr Cassis will use his visit to hold discussions with the president and secretary general of the Parliamentary Assembly, as well as with the Swiss delegation.

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