BILATERAL RELATIONS BETWEEN ALBANIA AND SWITZERLAND

The Swiss Confederation consists of 26 cantons and Bern is its capital. Its population is about 8.549.474 inhabitants with a surface area 41.285 km2.

The Federal Council has recognized the new Albanian state on March 1, 1922. In 1929 a commercial agreement was stipulated whereas in 1935 an Albanian consulate was opened in Bern. Diplomatic relations have been established on July 1, 1970. The Swiss diplomatic mission was opened in 1991 whereas the Swiss Embassy was opened in 1992. Since then relations and exchanges have steadily increased.

OVERVIEW

Currently, Switzerland is the fourth donor country in Albania and the 8th trading partner. This partnership is long-lasting and started since 1992. Albania considers Switzerland a very trustworthy partner and a priority country in terms of cooperation for development. Both countries share their keen interest in the development and stabilization of the Western Balkans region. Switzerland was one of the first countries to recognize Kosovo. Switzerland is very supportive of Albania’s proactive leadership in the region as well as very supportive of Albania’s EU bid. In 2020, regardless of the difficult situation created by the COVID-19, our countries celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations.

BILATERAL RELATIONS

Bilateral relations are focused on development cooperation, the strengthening of economic cooperation, and collaboration on migration and consular issues. Albania and Switzerland cooperate very closely on various matters of bilateral and international scope. The exchange of high-level visits has been frequent and has contributed to the intensification of our bilateral relations. The Albanian Prime Minister, Mr. Edi Rama, has visited Switzerland twice (2017 and 2018), while the Swiss Foreign Minister, Mr. Ignazio Cassis, paid an official visit to Albania, on November 20, 2020. The Vice President of the Confederation and the Swiss Minister of Interior, Mr. Alain Berset, paid an official visit to Tirana (February 18-19, 2022) during which the Agreement on the Recognition of Social Security was signed.

Both countries conduct regular political consultations that are hold alternately in Berne and Tirana. The last diplomatic consultations took place on June 29, 2021, in Bern. Albania and Switzerland cooperate closely in the framework of international organizations where they are members, including mutual support for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council (Albania 2022-2023 and Switzerland 2023-2024).

Relations between Parliaments of both countries have also been frequent and intense, including the exchange of top-level parliamentary visits.

The legal framework that regulates the relations between Albania and Switzerland is diversified. It consists in 30 agreements covering fields of trade, transport, economy, customs, consular, law and order, energy, agriculture etc.

Albania and Switzerland foster exchanges in the field of culture and the creation of links between artists and other cultural actors respectively. The Albanian and Swiss embassies regularly support cultural events in music, theatre, literature and film. Several Albanian musicians have performed in concerts in both countries. At the University of Bern, an Albanian Language permanent lectureship has been set up, which will precede the opening of the Albanian language department.