Moldova–Switzerland cooperation discussed at meeting between Foreign Ministers Mihai Popșoi and Ignazio Cassis

24 February 2025, Bern - In Bern, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, Mihai Popșoi, met with the Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation, Ignazio Cassis.

The two ministers highlighted the strong partnership between the Republic of Moldova and Switzerland, built on trust and tangible results in areas such as good governance, social cohesion, health, and local public services.

Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Popșoi thanked Switzerland for its continued support through Swiss development assistance, amounting to around EUR 26 million annually, and underlined its direct impact on modernising local communities in the Republic of Moldova and improving citizens' quality of life.

The discussions also addressed economic cooperation and the opportunities offered by the Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the EFTA states. Starting in April 2025, entrepreneurs from the Republic of Moldova will be able to export duty-free or with reduced duties to EFTA member states-Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

The parties noted the positive momentum in bilateral trade and agreed on the need to continue joint efforts to encourage cooperation between business communities and promote investment opportunities in key sectors. In this context, they welcomed the organisation of the Moldova-Switzerland Business Forum in Zurich on 12 March 2026, which will bring together private-sector representatives from both countries in areas such as agriculture and agri-food, construction and engineering, as well as the electronics industry.

The interest in deepening cooperation in areas such as security and defence was also reiterated.

Mihai Popșoi welcomed Switzerland's assumption of the OSCE Chairpersonship in 2026, in a complex context for European security. It was highlighted that the Republic of Moldova and Switzerland can play an active and relevant role through mutual support and coordination. The two ministers agreed to strengthen cooperation between the OSCE and the Council of Europe, including in view of Moldova's Presidency of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers from 14 November 2025 to 15 May 2026.

On this occasion, Minister Mihai Popșoi invited his Swiss counterpart to take part in the ministerial session of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers, to be held in Chișinău in May.