Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis to visit Madrid and Andorra la Vella
Bern, 22.10.2026 — Mr Cassis will be in Spain and Andorra from 22 to 23 October 2026. In Madrid he will meet his Spanish counterpart, José Manuel Albares Bueno. He will then visit the Principality of Andorra on 23 October for meetings with the prime minister, Xavier Espot Zamora, and the minister of foreign affairs, Imma Tor Faus, in the capital, Andorra la Vella. Discussions in both countries will focus on bilateral relations, European policy and geopolitical challenges.
The meeting with Mr Albares Bueno in Madrid will centre on the strong bilateral relations between Switzerland and Spain, with a particular focus on economic cooperation. There are also plans to further discuss cooperation in the areas of migration, research and innovation. In addition to bilateral relations, the ministers will also cover geopolitical challenges, notably European security and the role of the OSCE, which Switzerland is chairing in 2026.
The meeting follows on from Mr Cassis's last visit to Madrid in June 2023 and the two ministers' discussions in January 2026 on the margins of the World Economic Forum in Davos. The exchanges underscore the countries' positive, dynamic bilateral relations, which comprise political contacts, robust trade and wide-ranging cultural ties.
Andorra: deepening bilateral ties
Mr Cassis will travel from Madrid to Andorra la Vella for a meeting with his Andorran counterpart, Imma Tor Faus. The talks will focus on bilateral relations, cooperation in multilateral forums such as the UN and the International Organisation of La Francophonie, and relations with the EU. The two foreign ministers, who last met in November 2025 on the margins of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, will also touch on the geopolitical situation and Switzerland's chairpersonship of the OSCE. The same issues will be further discussed in a meeting with the prime minister, Xavier Espot Zamora.
Relations between Switzerland and Andorra have traditionally been very cordial. The two countries are closely linked due to their similar histories and geographical situations. Mr Cassis's visit to Andorra is the first by a Swiss foreign minister to the principality, and builds on regular bilateral exchanges and the 30 years of diplomatic relations celebrated in 2025.