Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation

10/02/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/02/2025 07:41

EPC Summit in Copenhagen: President Keller-Sutter meets Cypriot leader ahead of Council of EU presidency

On Thursday, 2 October, the president of the Swiss Confederation, Karin Keller-Sutter, attended the European Political Community (EPC) summit meeting in Copenhagen. Ahead of Cyprus's presidency of the Council of the EU over the next six-month term, Ms Keller-Sutter took the opportunity to hold an in-depth discussion with the president of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, on the sidelines of the meeting of European heads of state and government.

Both sides emphasised the good bilateral relationship, which has been strengthened by Switzerland's second contribution to selected EU member states, as well as cooperation at the multilateral level, for example within the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), where both countries have similar interests. Ms Keller-Sutter outlined Switzerland's priorities for its OSCE Chairpersonship in 2026.

With a view to Cyprus's presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2026, European policy and the ratification phase of the Swiss-EU package were also important topics. Ms Keller-Sutter explained that the next steps on the domestic front, after the consultation process, will be to submit the dispatch on the package to Parliament next year. The EPC summit meetings were also discussed, as was the prospect of Switzerland hosting the summit in the first half of 2027.

A further topic was the ongoing Cyprus Question and the progress made in resolving the conflict. Switzerland welcomes the confidence-building measures and calls for a lasting, comprehensive and fair agreement based on the UN resolutions. Ms Keller-Sutter reaffirmed Switzerland's willingness to continue offering its good offices to help resolve the conflict.

Platform for European dialogue

The EPC summit in Copenhagen focused on the war in Ukraine and European security issues. Ms Keller-Sutter participated in a discussion on critical areas of economic security, which addressed the importance of open markets and of reducing Europe's reliance on supply chains for raw materials and technologies.

The EPC is an informal platform for strengthening dialogue and cooperation on key issues affecting the European continent, while promoting security, stability and prosperity. The next EPC summit will take place in Armenia in the first half of 2026, followed by a meeting in Ireland in the second half of the year.

Trip continues to Rome

From Denmark Ms Keller-Sutter will travel to Rome, where she is scheduled to meet with Pope Leo XIV and Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin at the Vatican on Friday, 3 October. On the following day, she will attend the swearing-in ceremony for new recruits to the Pontifical Swiss Guard. On Monday, 6 October Ms Keller-Sutter will hold political meetings in Italy, including a meeting with Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti.

Further information

Bilateral relations Switzerland-Cyprus

Address for enquiries:

Federal Department of Finance FDF Communications FDF +41 58 462 60 33 [email protected]

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