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 France |  Switzerland |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Embassy of France, Bern | Embassy of Switzerland, Paris |
Diplomatic relations between France and Switzerland have traditionally been close, through important economic and cultural exchanges. Switzerland and France (which is part of the European Union), share about 600 km of border (prompting strong cross-border cooperation) and a language (French is one of Switzerland's four official languages).
In 1516, France and Switzerland signed a Treaty of Perpetual Peace ("paix perpétuelle"). A military treaty was signed in 1521. [1]
France has been appointing ambassadors to Switzerland since the 16th century and Switzerland's first representation abroad, in 1798, was in French capital Paris (closely followed by a consulate in Bordeaux). By the end of the 19th century, the only country with a legation in the Swiss capital Bern was France. [2]
As of 2015, there were four state visits of Presidents of France in Switzerland: Armand Fallières in August 1910, François Mitterrand on 14–15 April 1983, Jacques Chirac in 1998 and François Hollande on 15–16 April 2015. [3]
194,000 Swiss people live in France - the largest Swiss community outside Switzerland [4] - while 163,000 French people live in Switzerland - the largest French community outside France. [4] 150,000 French nationals cross the border to work in Switzerland, [4] half of all foreign cross-border commuters. [2]
France is Switzerland's third-largest trading partner (after Germany and Italy) [2] and the two are integrated economically via Swiss treaties with the European Union. Switzerland is also part of the Schengen Area, which abolishes border checks between member states.
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| Related topics | ||
| Authority control databases: National |
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The foreign relations of Switzerland are the primary responsibility of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). Some international relations of Switzerland are handled by other departments of the federal administration of Switzerland.
The Canton of Geneva, officially the Republic and Canton of Geneva, is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. It is composed of forty-five municipalities, and the seat of the government and parliament is in the City of Geneva.
Switzerland is not a member state of the European Union (EU). It is associated with the Union through a series of bilateral treaties in which Switzerland has adopted various provisions of European Union law in order to participate in the Union's single market, without joining as a member state. All but one of Switzerland's neighbouring countries are EU member states.
Diplomatic relations between Switzerland and the United States were established in 1853 by the U.S. and in 1868 by Switzerland. The first diplomatic representation of the U.S. was established in Basel in 1853.
Romania–Switzerland relations are the foreign relations between Romania and Switzerland. The diplomatic relations between both countries were established in 1911, first at legacy level and subsequently raised to embassy level on 24 December 1962. Romania has an embassy in Bern and two consulates in Geneva and Zürich, while Switzerland has an embassy in Bucharest. The Romanian embassy at Bern was once seized in 1955 by a group of five Romanian emigrants. This event is known in Romania as the "Bern incident".
Russia–Switzerland relations are foreign relations between Russia and Switzerland. Switzerland opened a consulate in Saint Petersburg in 1816, upgrading it to a legation 90 years later. The two countries broke off diplomatic relations in 1923, when Russia was going through a period of revolutionary turmoil – and they were not resumed until 1946.
Foreign relations exist between the alpine nations of Austria and Switzerland. Both countries have had diplomatic relations since the Middle Ages. The Habsburgs, who ruled Austria for more than six centuries, are originally from Aargau, Switzerland. The two countries are predominantly German-speaking. Austria has an embassy in Bern, a general consulate in Zürich and seven honorary consulates. Switzerland has an embassy in Vienna and six honorary consulates. Together, both countries organized the Euro 2008.
Swiss–Turkish relations are foreign relations between Switzerland and Turkey. Switzerland has an embassy in Ankara and a consulate-general in Istanbul. Turkey has an embassy in Bern and consulates-general in Zürich and Geneva. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe, the OECD, the OSCE and the WTO.
Diplomatic relations between Italy and Switzerland have traditionally been close and are currently governed by a complex set of treaties.
Switzerland–Uruguay relations are foreign relations between Uruguay and Switzerland. Both countries share a long history of mutual economic relations, and they established diplomatic relations in 1828. Uruguay became a popular destination for Swiss migrants starting in the 1860s. In the 20th century, Uruguay has looked to Switzerland as a model for government, historical and cultural ties go back to at least the 19th century. There were 956 people with Swiss passports residing in Uruguay in 2008. Uruguay was described as the "Switzerland of the Americas" in a 1951 New York Times article for its popularity as a haven for capital fleeing Europe at the time and its adoption of Swiss-inspired banking laws. Thomas J. Knight also wrote that "Uruguay has for most of its history been the 'Switzerland' of South America."
Diplomatic relations between Germany and Switzerland are Switzerland's closest. There are over 200 agreements between Switzerland and Germany; and between Switzerland and the European Union (EU), of which Germany is a member. Switzerland is also part of the EU's Schengen Area which abolishes international borders between Schengen states.
Switzerland recognized Israel on January 25, 1949 and opened a consulate in Tel Aviv. Israel has an embassy in Bern. Since 1958, Switzerland has an embassy in Tel Aviv and an honorary consulate in Eilat.
Belgium–France relations are the interstate relations between Belgium and France. Relations were established after the independence of Belgium. Both nations are great allies. Both nations have cultural similarities. Both nations are founding members of NATO, the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie and the European Union.
France–Kazakhstan relations are the diplomatic relations between France and Kazakhstan. Both nations are members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
France–Peru relations are the diplomatic relations between the French Republic and the Republic of Peru. Both nations are members of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization.
Spain–Switzerland relations are the bilateral and diplomatic relations between these two countries. Both countries are members of the Council of Europe.
Peru–Switzerland relations refers to the bilateral relations between the Republic of Peru and the Swiss Confederation. Both countries established consular relations in 1876 and made them official in 1884, and relations have been maintained since. A Swiss consulate opened in Lima in 1884, being transformed into a consulate general in 1931, before being elevated to the rank of legation in 1946 and embassy in 1957. During World War II, Switzerland represented Peruvian interests in Germany, Italy and France, at the same time representing those of the latter in Peru.
