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Nuncio, Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps

Federal Councillor,

President of the Council of States,

Vice President of the National Council,

Excellencies

Ladies and gentlemen,

It has become a tradition to hold the New Year’s reception in this building. So I would like to take this opportunity to thank Parliament for its hospitality.

Nuncio, I would like thank you too for your kind New Year’s wishes as doyen of the diplomatic corps.

And indeed, I would like to take this opportunity to thank to all of you representing your country here in Switzerland for having accepted this invitation, and for your good collaboration throughout the past year.

Excellencies

Ladies and gentlemen,

When I was elected president for the first time in 2015, Switzerland had had a turbulent year, between terrorist threats in Europe, the consequences of the initiative against mass immigration and strong value of the franc. Looking back, the great challenge of the moment was the migration crisis facing Europe. At the time, I was head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police, responsible for the migration dossier.

My presidency in 2015 was therefore marked by that challenge. Today, my country has drawn lessons and put in place structures which enable it to respond more effectively, but also humanely to migration issues.

Excellencies

Ladies and gentlemen,

Our new Parliament was elected in the autumn. By Swiss standards, last autumn’s elections brought about some notable changes. Today there are more green-leaning MPs, more mothers, more women in general, and it is more youthful. It is this new Federal Assembly that will have to get to grips with the question of global warming for Switzerland.

Climate change is a fact. It is the greatest challenge of our time. The way in which we respond to it will determine the well-being of our children and our grandchildren.

Switzerland is particularly vulnerable to climate change. In recent years, average temperatures have risen twice as fast in Switzerland than in the rest of the world. Perhaps you saw the reports in the media last summer that it was so dry in the Alps that water even had to be flown up to the cows by helicopter in some places!

Switzerland is a prosperous country. If global warming is a major challenge for my country, it is even more so for less wealthy countries. Some of you here represent countries for which global warming poses an existential threat.

Of course, the short-term response will be important and will involve knowing how to respond to disasters in a spirit of solidarity. More fundamentally, it will be crucial for states to be able to work together, leading to ambitious and fair responses in the multilateral framework.

On the domestic level, Switzerland will do its part to reduce CO2 emissions. It has set itself the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050 . This goal can be met if we set to work immediately. The longer we wait, the more expensive the remedies will be. Today, Switzerland has the opportunity to define its climate policy in a way that also benefits the economy.

It was with great satisfaction that we took note of the ambitious European Green Deal. We look forward to working closely with the European Union as this is an issue that affects the entire European continent, and therefore Switzerland, too.

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

We need to make the best possible use of solar power. It is a free and unlimited source of energy. Using this resource also has positive geopolitical implications, as it is possible everywhere and by everyone. In that sense, it is an extremly democratic source of energy as it can be harnessed in a decentralised manner.

It could help to reduce geopolitical tensions linked to the exploitation and transportation of fossil fuels. It will reduce the dependency of certain countries on producers. It could even be a factor for peace by reducing tensions over scarce resources. That was the assessment of the International Renewable Energy Agency IRENA in a recent report.

Switzerland wants to help ensure that solutions are found together in a spirit of cooperation. In this regard, I welcome Switzerland's participation in the G20. I am convinced that my country will make a useful contribution to the work of the group in answering the questions of our time.

Our relations with the European Union will certainly be one of our priorities in the year ahead. Our relations today are extremely close and intensive in all areas. Every day, 300,000 cross-border commuters come to work in Switzerland before returning to a member state again in the evening.

We exchange the equivalent of one billion francs worth of goods each working day, and Switzerland is the European Union's third most important economic partner after the USA and China. Among such partners, it is crucial to recognise the importance of what binds us together.

As in the past, Switzerland will continue to be a committed and reliable partner to you and the countries you represent. Switzerland always strives to strike the right balance between its different interests while at the same time defending its values, namely the rule of law, equality, human rights and social justice.

As in the past, our concern should be to work together towards improving living conditions in each and every country. But, today more than ever, our primary concern should also be to save our planet in the interests of future generations.

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I now have the pleasure of extending to you and to the states you represent, the best wishes of the Federal Council and of the Swiss people, as well as my own wishes for peace, security and good health. Thank you.

New Year’s Reception for the Diplomatic Corps