The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, met on Friday with his Swiss counterpart, Federal Councillor for Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis, with whom he discussed the good bilateral relations between Spain and Switzerland, as well as the main issues on the EU and international agenda. During the meeting, the ministers also signed an agreement to establish a mechanism for regular consultations that will consolidate and expand bilateral political dialogue between the two countries.
Spain and Switzerland enjoy good bilateral relations across all areas. There is a large community of Spanish residents in Switzerland – more than 149,000 – and, in terms of trade and investment, the situation is positive, with tourism being the main item in the balance of services: 2.25 million Swiss citizens visited our country last year.
The potential for bilateral scientific cooperation is particularly noteworthy, with a large number of Spanish researchers and scientists in Switzerland working in sectors such as health, artificial intelligence and quantum technologies.
Politically speaking, the relationship is also strong, and the agreement signed this Friday is proof of this. The aim is to hold annual consultations – and whenever deemed necessary – on thematic and geographical areas of mutual interest.
EU agenda
The ministers also discussed relations between Switzerland and the European Union, and Switzerland’s prospects for closer ties with EU institutions through the so-called ‘Bilaterals III’ package, which is currently under consideration.
This package of agreements governs, amongst other matters, the conditions for Switzerland’s access to the EU’s internal market, as well as the alignment of its legislation with EU regulations and case law. Switzerland’s contribution to European peace and security in the current international geopolitical context was also discussed.
International agenda
Finally, on the international agenda, the ministers discussed security, the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the war in the Middle East and the defence of multilateralism. Switzerland hosts several international organisations and is the depositary and guarantor of the Geneva Conventions on international humanitarian law.
On this last point, both countries reaffirmed their support for the work of the International Criminal Court.
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—NON OFFICIAL TRANSLATION—