At the Annual Meeting, members of the Federal Council have the opportunity for many more contacts and discussions; around 32 bilateral meetings are expected to take place. Programme changes are always possible, even at the last minute.

President Ignazio Cassis, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), will place the emphasis during his talks at the Annual Meeting on the war in Ukraine. In his opening speech, he will address the situation in Ukraine and possible implications for the security architecture in Europe. These will also be the most important topics at the bilateral meetings that the president will hold during his stay in Davos. Among other things, he is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. President Cassis will also take part in an event organised by the Open Forum on the topic of peace in Europe and the potential of multilateral cooperation.

Federal Councillor Alain Berset, head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA), will take part in an event on global health and health policy. He will speak alongside the health ministers of Indonesia, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, and Malaysia, Khairy Jamaluddin. In his capacity as vice president, he is scheduled to meet with Tunisian Prime Minister Najla Bouden, Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Colombian President Ivan Duque, and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Federal Councillor Viola Amherd, head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), will be focusing on security policy matters. She will take part in a panel discussion on the future of transatlantic relations (IGWEL, Informal Gathering of World Economic Leaders). In addition, a meeting is set to take place with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg with whom Ms Amherd will exchange views on the current security policy situation, military peace promotion in the Western Balkans – in particular SWISSCOY - and bilateral cooperation within NATO. The head of the DDPS will also pay a visit to the Swiss Armed Forces Culinary Team (SACT), which is on duty in the ‘House of Switzerland’.

Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer, head of the Federal Department of Finance (FDF), will hold bilateral meetings with various counterparts in line with previous events.

Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin, head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER), will use the Annual Meeting in Davos to advance various thematic priorities in the areas of business and trade, such as economic relations with partner countries and the EU, or the further development of several free trade agreements. On Sunday, in the run-up to the Annual Meeting, he and Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga will meet with Robert Habeck, the German Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection. In the days that follow, Mr Parmelin will hold talks with Brazilian Economic Affairs Minister Paulo Guedes, India’s Trade and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, Peruvian Trade Minister Roberto Sánchez, Indonesian Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi, Singaporean Transport Minister S. Iswaran, the UK Secretary of State for International Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan, and EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis.

Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga, head of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC), will meet with Robert Habeck, the German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, together with Economic Affairs Minister Guy Parmelin on Sunday, 22 May, ahead of the Annual Meeting. Among other things, they will discuss the impact of the war in Ukraine on energy supplies. Ms Sommaruga's programme on Sunday also includes talks with Arifin Tasrif, the Indonesian Energy Minister, as well as Xie Zhenhua, the Chinese Special Envoy for Climate.

The ‘House of Switzerland’ WEF Annual Meeting 2022

For the third time at a WEF Annual Meeting, the Swiss authorities will be once again be showcased by a ‘House of Switzerland’. Under the auspices of Presence Switzerland, part of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), the ‘House of Switzerland’ in the Davos ice stadium will serve as a communications and networking hub for Switzerland as host country. Through a variety of thematic events, it will bring together players from politics, business and science and offer a wide-ranging programme. The focus will be on sustainable economic recovery and the current challenges in view of the global situation. The spectrum of topics ranges from the potential of new technologies in development aid and the reorientation of work to innovations in the field of digitalisation and the future of food systems. The ‘House of Switzerland’ is also an informal meeting place for the Swiss delegation with international guests and partners, as well as for media representatives. This year, the Swiss Armed Forces Culinary Team (SACT), the national team of army chefs, will ensure that guests at the ‘House of Switzerland’ are well catered to.

Programme of members of the Federal Council attending the WEF Annual Meeting 2022