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Political Relations

Our country's bilateral relations with Switzerland are very good. In recent years, visits have taken place both at a bilateral and multilateral level. In particular, on May 2, 2017, the then President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Karolos Papoulias, visited Bern and met with his then Swiss counterpart, Mr. Didier Burkhalter , on the first historic official visit of a Head of State of Greece to Switzerland, since the beginning of diplomatic relations between the two countries (1895).

The Parliaments of both countries maintain groups of MPs, which work for the promotion of parliamentary relations, better understanding and co-operation between the two countries (Friends of Greece and Switzerland, respectively).

Many agreements have been signed between the two countries. Indicatively mentioned are:

A. Convention on the settlement of mutual legal assistance in civil and commercial matters (1934).
B. Convention on the import, transit and repatriation of cultural property (2007).
C. Agreement on the readmission of persons in an illegal situation (2009).
D. Amendment to the 1983 Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (2010).
E. Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral cooperation between Greece and Switzerland on energy and environmental issues (2012).

  • Working visit of Swiss Federal Councillor/Minister of Justice and Police, Mr. Beat Jans in Kos and Athens, March 26-27, 2025 and meeting with the Minister of Immigration and Asylum, Mr. Makis Voridis
  • Visit of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, Mr. George Kotsiras, to Geneva, 25-26 February 2025. The Greek Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Geneva in order to participate in a High-Level Segment of the 58th Session of the UN Human Rights Council.
  • Visit of the Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Mr. Kyriakos Pierrakakis , to Geneva, December 2, 2024, where he had a meeting and talks with the Director General of the International Baccalaureate Organization ( International Baccalaureate Organization). Baccalaureate - IB ), Mr. Olli - Pekka Heinonen. Mr. Pierrakakis also visited the European Organization for Nuclear Research CERN.
  • Working visit of Swiss Federal Councillor/Minister of Finance, Education and Research, Mr. Guy Parmelin in Athens, 8-11 May 2024, who held talks on deepening bilateral economic and scientific relations with the Minister of National Economy and Finance, Mr. Kostis Hatzidakis, and the Minister of Development, Mr. Konstantinos Skrekas.
  • Greece-Switzerland Political Consultations, Athens , 24 April 2024
    The last round of political consultations was held in Athens on April 24, 2024. The two sides noted the excellent climate of our bilateral relations and agreed on the feasibility of strengthening political contacts, contributing to the consolidation of excellent bilateral relations, given the coincidence of views on bilateral, regional and international issues.
  • Visit of the President of the Republic, Ms. Katerina Sakellaropoulou, to Geneva and Lausanne , 11-12 December 2023
    The President of the Republic, Mrs. Katerina Sakellaropoulou, following the invitation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Volker Türk , participated in the event for the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which took place on 11 and 12 December 2023, in Geneva. On the sidelines of the celebrations, the President of the Republic had a series of meetings, among others, with the President of the Swiss Confederation, Mr. Alain Berset , with the President of the International Olympic Committee, Mr. Thomas Bach , with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, as well as distinguished Greeks of the diaspora and Swiss Philhellenes.
  • Working visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Mr. Nikos Dendias, to Bern, 11 November 2021, which had a meeting and talks with his Swiss counterpart, Mr. Ignacio Cassis .
  • Working visit of Swiss Federal Councillor/Minister of Justice and Police Ms. Karin Keller - Sutter in Greece, on October 21-22, 2021 for talks with the Ministers of Citizen Protection, Mr. Theodorikakos , and Asylum & Immigration, Mr. Mitarakis.
  • Visit of the Minister of Culture and Sports of Greece, Ms. Lina Mendoni, to Geneva, 13-15 October 2021, in order to participate in a series of celebratory events in the context of the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the start of the Greek Revolution. Also, during the visit of the Minister, two Exhibitions were inaugurated : 1) “Geneva and Greece. A friendship in the service of Independence”, organized by the Hardt Foundation pour the study de l' Antiquité Classique, at the Museum of Art and History of Geneva and 2) Exhibition of the Collection of Antiquities of Anne and Jean - Gabriel Eynard .
  • Greece-Switzerland political consultations, Bern, 16 June 2016
    Political consultations between Greece and Switzerland took place in Bern on 16 June 2016. The Greek delegation was headed by the First Director General, Ambassador, Mr. Mavroidis, and the Swiss delegation was headed by the Director General for Europe, Central Asia, the Council of Europe and the OSCE of the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Brühl . The consultations were held in a very friendly and constructive atmosphere, contributing to the consolidation of our excellent bilateral relations. Bilateral, regional and international issues were discussed.
  • Visit of the President of the Hellenic Republic to Geneva and Lausanne, 11-12 April 2016
    The President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Prokopis Pavlopoulos, visited Geneva and Lausanne on 11 and 12 April 2016, at the invitation of the President of the International Olympic Committee, Mr. Thomas Bach . In Geneva, on 11 April, the President met with the presidents of the Greek diaspora organizations and philhellenic associations of Switzerland, as well as with distinguished Hellenists. In Lausanne , on 12 April, the President laid a bouquet of flowers at the bust of the first Governor of Greece, Ioannis Kapodistrias ( Ouchy area ) and then visited the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee, where he was received by the President of the IOC, Mr. Bach.
  • Meeting of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. I. Amanatidis, with Presidents and members of the Greek associations of Geneva and Lausanne (Geneva, 1-2 March 2016).
    In the context of his participation in the 31st Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) (Geneva, 1-2 March 2016), the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. G. Amanatidis, had a meeting on 2 March at the Orthodox Center of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambésy with His Eminence Metropolitan of Switzerland, Mr. Jeremiah and His Eminence Bishop of Lampsakou, Mr. Makarios , as well as with the Presidents and members of the Greek associations of Geneva and Lausanne.
  • Inauguration of the exhibition of "the sunken treasure of Antikythera"
    Presence of the former Minister of Culture, Mrs. Lambraki-Plaka in Basel, for the inauguration of the exhibition of “the sunken treasure of Antikythera” at Antikenmuseum, 26 September 2015.
  • Working visit of the Federal Councilor of Finance, Mrs.Widmer-Schlumpf
    On February 4th, 2014, Federal Councilor of Finance, Mrs.Widmer-Schlumpf paid a working visit to Athens and met with Greek Deputy Minister of  Finance, Mr. Mavraganis, as well as with officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  • Historic first official visit of the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Karolos Papoulias, to Switzerland (01-04.05.2014)
    Of utmost importance was the official visit of President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Papoulias to Bern, 2 May 2014 and his meeting with his Swiss counterpart, Mr. Didier Burkhalter. It was the first official visit of a Greek President to Switzerland, after the establishment of diplomatic relations of our two countries (1917). He was accompanied by Minister of Tourism, Mrs Olga Kefalogianni and Deputy Foreign Minister for European Affairs, Mr. Dimitrios Kourkoulas. A broad spectrum of bilateral and international issues were discussed. During his stay in Switzerland, President Papoulias had the opportunity to visit CERN in Geneva.
  • Meeting held between Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs E. Venizelos and the Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland D. Burkhalter
    Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Venizelos met his homologue, Mr. Burkhalter, in New York, during the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly (25 September 2013), in view of the upcoming Greek Presidency of the Council of the EU (first semester 2014).
  • The President of the Hellenic Parliament at the Orthodox Center of Chambézy
    Official visit was that of the Speaker of the Greek Parliament, Mr. Evangelos Meimarakis to Bern (24 – 26 September 2013).
Last Updated Monday, 23 June 2025
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