The Secretary General, Ambassador Ettore Sequi, met with the Secretary of State of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Livia Leu, as part of periodic bilateral consultations between the Foreign Ministries of Italy and Switzerland.
The meeting was an opportunity for the Secretary General to discuss the main issues on the bilateral, European and international agenda, confirming a strong convergence of views and deep sharing of values with a neighbor and partner of special relevance.
Ambassador Sequi and Ambassador Leu expressed satisfaction with the excellent state of relations between Italy and Switzerland, noting how the breadth and depth of economic, cultural and civil society ties is reflected in a very dense network of protocols and technical agreements that generate a positive and concrete impact on citizens and businesses. Italy’s Secretary General and the Swiss Secretary of State highlighted the central role played by cross-border cooperation and the various far-reaching bilateral coopertion formats, including the Dialogue Forum, the Cross-Border Dialogue, and the Economic Dialogue.
Ambassador Sequi and Ambassador Leu agreed on the potential for further growth of the Italian-Swiss relations, especially in light of the priority both countries share as to issues such as sustainability, technological innovation and the use of renewable energy sources. These themes are at the core of the Rome Expo 2030 bid, which Ambassador Sequi presented as a great opportunity for Switzerland as well.
During the talks, the topic of the war in Ukraine and its political, economic, energy and social consequences for Europe and internationally were discussed in depth. Secretary General Sequi stressed Italy’s appreciation for the alignment of Switserland with the sanctions on Russia adopted by the EU and for Swiss initiatives in favor of Ukraine’s reconstruction, that was the theme of the Lugano Conference. While reiterating the firmest condemnation of the aggression against Ukraine, Ambassador Sequi and Ambassador Leu expressed concern about the recent escalation unleashed by Moscow and the repercussions that the crisis is having at the humanitarian, food security and stability levels, including in the Balkan area.
During the meeting, the Secretary General was able to learn about the Secretary of State Leu’s updated assessments regarding Switzerland’s priorities in its upcoming term as a non-permanent member in the UN Security Council, as well as on Bern’s relations with the European Union.
