FDFA State Secretary Alexandre Fasel holds foreign and security policy consultations in Brussels and participates in European Research and Innovation Days
Brussels, 11.11.2026 — Foreign policy and science diplomacy were the focus of FDFA State Secretary Alexandre Fasel's visit to Brussels on 10 and 11 November 2026. On Tuesday, he met with Kajsa Ollongren, the secretary-general of the European External Action Service (EEAS), for political consultations. On Wednesday, at the European Commission's European Research and Innovation Days, he highlighted how Switzerland fosters trust through anticipatory science diplomacy. This approach is also being pursued by Switzerland in the run-up to the Global AI Summit 2027 in Geneva. Mr Fasel invited the European states and their partners to take part in this preparatory process.
Yesterday's biannual foreign and security policy consultations afforded Mr Fasel an opportunity to exchange views with Ms Ollongren on current challenges to peace, security, and stability both within and outside Europe, as well as to discuss the numerous issues of mutual interest in this policy area. The delegations discussed the current situation in Europe, the ongoing war against Ukraine, and hybrid threats. Both parties stressed the importance of a rules-based international order and of reinforced cooperation among European partners in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.
Mr Fasel and Ms Ollongren also highlighted the long-standing collaboration in civilian and military peacebuilding, as well as cooperation in other areas, such as democracy promotion. Switzerland and the EU reaffirmed their shared commitment to conflict prevention and peaceful conflict resolution. Both interlocutors also acknowledged the importance of International Geneva as a centre for human rights and multilateral diplomacy.
Another topic at the heart of the discussions was Switzerland's 2026 OSCE chairpersonship. Mr Fasel provided an update on the ongoing preparations for the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Lugano on 3 and 4 December. They also touched on the situation at the International Criminal Court, including Switzerland's candidacy for a judgeship. Finally, they discussed the European Political Community (EPC) summit, which Switzerland will host in April 2027.
The consultations underscored the shared values of Switzerland and the EU, particularly with regard to multilateralism and peacebuilding, as well as their interest in deepening cooperation on foreign and security policy issues.
European Research & Innovation Days
Today, Wednesday, Mr Fasel spoke at the European Research and Innovation Days during a panel discussion on strengthening open and secure international cooperation and science diplomacy. He explained Switzerland's anticipatory science diplomacy approach, in which anticipation does not mean prediction, but preparation. Those who are early to recognise future drivers of change gain time to act collectively and harness the opportunities afforded by science and technology.
Switzerland has also adopted this approach for the Geneva AI Summit 2027 (GAIS27). The global summit, whose overarching theme is ‘Bridging Innovation and Trust’, is being organised through an open process that brings together researchers, the private sector, and the diplomatic community. Mr Fasel invited European countries and their partners to participate in this preparatory process.
He also praised the close cooperation between Switzerland and the EU in the fields of research and innovation. Since 1 January 2025, Switzerland has once again been associated with Horizon Europe and other EU research and innovation measures. This marks the continuation of cooperation that dates back to the 1950s. There are also close links in the field of science diplomacy: in its recommendation of 29 May 2026 on an EU framework for science diplomacy, the Council of the EU cites the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA) foundation – established by the Federal Council in collaboration with the Canton and City of Geneva – as an organisation with which cooperation should be strengthened.