Ignazio Cassis meets with officials of Cantons of Ticino and Graubünden in heart of Switzerland
Bern, 06.09.2024 - A trilateral meeting between Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the FDFA, and the State Councils of Ticino and Graubünden took place today in Schwyz, as part of the regular policy dialogue established with the two Cantons of Italian- and Romansch-speaking Switzerland. Mr Cassis chose a symbolic location, in the heart of Switzerland, for this exchange. Discussions focused on topics of common interest, in particular cross-border relations and the promotion of multilingualism, as well as on the situation in the Mesolcina and Alta Vallemaggia, where the weather caused major damage this summer.
As part of their regular policy dialogue, Mr Cassis welcomed the cantonal governments of Graubünden and Ticino to Schwyz today – a symbolic place steeped in Swiss history. The talks were held after a visit to the Museum of the Swiss Charters of Confederation and a meeting with the Swiss authorities. They focused on topics of common interest, such as preserving Switzerland's diversity, promoting minorities' standing, and collaborating across the border.
Mr Cassis recalled his department's commitment to ensuring that the various language communities are fairly represented in the Federal Administration and in semi-public companies. The officials then discussed the fifth edition of Emna rumantscha, the week for the promotion of Romansh in the world, which will fall in 2025. Together with the weeks dedicated to the other national languages, Emna rumantscha highlights Switzerland's diverse cultural realities, contributing to national cohesion and enhancing the country's international profile.
They then turned their attention to the Little Erasmus project, which allows employees of the cantonal administrations to work at the FDFA for a week and vice versa. The three parties signed a declaration of intent in Poschiavo last year that reaffirmed their commitment to pursue and consolidate the project, which was launched in 2021.
Another topic was the weather in the summer of 2024, which caused extensive damage in both cantons. Taking stock of the current situation in the areas affected, the officials discussed the Swiss Armed Forces' and federal authorities' support in repairing the connecting roads and the reconstruction work in Mesolcina and in Alta Vallemaggia.
Positive developments in cross-border relations
Mr Cassis gave an account of the recent visit to Switzerland by Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani. In addition to highlighting the positive developments in bilateral relations with Italy in recent years, he also discussed in depth cross-border issues of topical interest to the two Cantons, such as cultural cooperation and developments in the labour market, the transport sector and energy supply.
Commitment to promoting Ticino and Graubünden
Since his election to the Federal Council in 2017, Mr Cassis has conducted a regular policy dialogue with the Cantons of Ticino and Graubünden, as well as with the representatives of Italian-speaking Switzerland in the two chambers of Parliament. Moreover, the two cantons south of the Alps often host diplomatic meetings and welcome visiting ministers, as well as major national and international events. Examples of this include the Ukraine Recovery Conference held in Lugano and, in 2022, the annual Ambassadors' Conference in Pontresina and the Federal Council's meeting outside the Federal Palace in Val Monastero. The last trilateral meeting between the FDFA and the two cantonal governments was two years ago in Bern.
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