Moldovan, Swiss diplomacy heads discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation

Opportunities to boost cooperation between Moldova and Switzerland and the solid partnership built on trust and concrete results in areas such as good governance, social cohesion, health, and local public services have been the main topics discussed at meeting in Bern between Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs Minister Mihai Popsoi and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis.

Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Popsoi thanked Switzerland for its constant support through Swiss development assistance, amounting to approximately 26 million euros annually, and highlighted its direct impact on the modernization of localities of Moldova and the improvement of citizens’ quality of life.

Mihai Popsoi also welcomed Switzerland’s assumption of the Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) for 2026, in a complex context for European security. The sides emphasized that Moldova and Switzerland can play an active and relevant role through mutual support and coordination. The two ministers agreed to strengthen cooperation between the OSCE and the Council of Europe, including taking into account the exercising by  Moldova’s of the chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, from as of November 14, 2025 till May 15, 2026.

On this occasion, Minister Mihai Popsoi invited his Swiss counterpart to participate in the ministerial session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which will take place in Chisinau in next May.

The discussions also focused on economic cooperation and on capitalizing on the opportunities offered by the Free Trade Agreement between Moldova and the EFTA states. Starting from April 2025, entrepreneurs of Moldova have been able to export duty-free or at reduced tariffs to EFTA member states – Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

The sides noted the positive dynamics of bilateral trade and agreed on the need to continue joint efforts to stimulate cooperation between business communities and to promote investment opportunities in key sectors. In the context, they welcomed the organization, on 12 March 2026, in Zurich, of the Moldovan-Swiss Business Forum, which will bring together private sector representatives from both states in areas such as agriculture and the agri-food sector, construction and engineering, as well as the electronics industry.

At the same time, the officials reiterated the interest in deepening cooperation in such areas as security and defense.

Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Popsoi is paying a working visit to Geneva and Bern, Switzerland, on February 24-25.