The state visit of Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer was held amid tight security in Switzerland following concerns of disruption by opponents of coronavirus restrictions.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/mga
Nehammer chose Switzerland as the venue of his first official trip since becoming Austrian Chancellor on December 6. Austria has adopted some of the strictest pandemic measures in Europe, including a recent requirement for all adults to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
The town centre at Zofingen, in northern Switzerland, was cordoned off from the public as it was feared Nehammer would attract the ire of people opposed to vaccines.
He met Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, who holds the rotating Swiss presidency this year, and Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter. Talks centred on the Ukraine crisis, migration and Switzerland’s recent issues with the European Union.
Nehammer promised to support Switzerland in its fractious relationship with the EU that has been at stalemate since Swiss negotiators broke off talks last year on the future shape of bilateral ties.
“We are on Switzerland’s side when it comes to building a bridge between Switzerland and the EU,” Nehammer said.
Both Nehammer and Cassis told reporters that they were committed to finding a peaceful solution for the growing threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Since mid-2021 more than 5,000 migrants have entered eastern Switzerland illegally by train from Austria, mostly young Afghans with France as their destination. Switzerland wants to speed up the process of sending them back to Austria.
Popular Stories
More
Multinational companies
Azeri fossil-fuel cash cow brings controversy to Switzerland
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
This content was published on
Switzerland does not expect a sustained wave of Afghan refugees despite large numbers crossing the border in recent months.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.