Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation

09/15/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/15/2025 04:38

Ignazio Cassis on working visit to Vienna to discuss Swiss 2026 OSCE chairpersonship

The head of the FDFA, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, will be in Vienna from 17 to 18 September 2025. During his visit, he will present Switzerland's priorities for its 2026 Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) chairpersonship to the OSCE Permanent Council. Mr Cassis will also meet with the Austrian minister for Europe, integration and family, Ms Claudia Plakolm.

In 2026, Switzerland will chair the OSCE for the third time. At its meeting on 21 May 2025, the Federal Council set out five priorities for Switzerland's year as chair, which Mr Cassis will present to the OSCE Permanent Council on 18 September. In chairing the organisation, Switzerland assumes its share of responsibility for contributing to stability and security in Europe. It is taking on this task at a time when the world is facing a challenging geopolitical environment. It is thus all the more important to maintain the OSCE's ability to act and to promote an inclusive dialogue. The OSCE is the only security organisation that includes not only the European states but also the United States and Russia. One of the priorities of the Swiss chairpersonship will be to continue efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, based on international law and the principles of the Helsinki Final Act. In Vienna, Mr Cassis will also take the opportunity to meet with the secretary general of the OSCE, Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu.

With 57 participating states, the OSCE is the world's largest regional security organisation. Its focus is on overcoming differences and building trust. Switzerland has been a member of the OSCE since the organisation was founded in Helsinki in 1975, and is the only country to assume the chairpersonship for a third time (previously in 1996 and 2014). On 1 January 2025, Switzerland took on its first current leadership tasks as a member of the OSCE Troika together with Malta (2024 chair) and Finland (current chair).

During the bilateral talks with Ms Plakolm on 17 September, Mr Cassis will emphasise the close relations their two countries enjoy and take the opportunity to discuss various bilateral, European and international issues. The Swiss delegation will outline the next steps in the new package of agreements between Switzerland and the EU. European security will also be on the agenda, with a particular focus on the outlook in the Western Balkans, the war in Ukraine and plans for the country's reconstruction. The priorities of the Swiss 2026 OSCE chairpersonship and the European Political Community (EPC) will also be discussed.

Address for enquiries:

FDFA Communication Bundeshaus West 3003 Bern +41 58 460 55 55 [email protected]

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