During the autumn session of Parliament, the president of the National Council, Dominique de Buman (CVP, FR), will receive the parliamentary speakers of Georgia (11-13 Sept.), the UK (17-19 Sept.) and Armenia (24-26 Sept.) for official talks in Bern.

​Georgia

The visit by the president of the Georgian Parliament, Irakli Kobakhidze, follows the visit to Tbilisi in September 2016 by Christa Markwalder (FDP, BE), who was National Council president at the time (see link). National Council president Dominique de Buman will receive his Georgian counterpart on 12 September. Talks are expected to cover economic cooperation, cooperation in the field of education, research and innovation, and peace promotion, which is at the core of Switzerland’s activities in the South Caucasus. Meetings are also planned with representatives from the Swiss-Georgian Friendship Group and the Federal Administration.

Relations between Switzerland and Georgia are good and fostered through intensive exchanges. In particular, economic relations between Switzerland and Georgia are becoming increasingly important. In concluding the free trade agreement between EFTA and Georgia, which came into force in Switzerland this year, Switzerland is continuing its policy of supporting economic reforms and helping this Caucasian state to integrate into the structures of economic cooperation at European and global level.

United Kingdom

On 18 September Mr de Buman will receive his British counterpart John Bercow. During his visit to Bern the Speaker of the House of Commons will also meet with the president of the Council of States, Karin Keller-Sutter (FDP, SG), the presidents of the Foreign Affairs Committees of both chambers, National Council member Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter (CVP/BL) and Council of States member Filippo Lombardi (CVP/TI), as well as with National Council member Christa Markwalder. Meetings with various Federal Administration representatives are also on the agenda.

The upcoming discussions will focus on aspects of the ongoing negotiations with the EU on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU (Brexit), such as the timeframe, procedure and content, as well as on the future shape of trade relations with Switzerland. Relations between Switzerland and the UK today are primarily based on the bilateral agreements with the EU. These will no longer be applicable in relations between the two countries following the UK’s departure from the EU. Switzerland and the UK are important trade partners and the two economies are closely interlinked.

Armenia

The president of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, Ara Babloyan, will meet National Council president Dominique de Buman on 25 September. Mr de Buman travelled to Armenia in February at the invitation of his Armenian counterpart accompanied by a parliamentary delegation (see link). A number of meetings are planned with members of the Swiss-Armenia Friendship Group, and representatives from the Foreign Affairs Committees and the Federal Administration. The aim will be to further intensify relations between the two countries in terms of cooperation, trade and culture.

As part of its 2017-2020 cooperation strategy for South Caucasus, Switzerland is supporting Armenia and Georgia to develop a sustainable economy, strengthen democratic institutions and promote dialogue in the region. In Armenia, it is particularly active in the field of agriculture and is assisting with the process of decentralisation. Given their proximity to Iran, Armenia and Georgia are markets with strong export potential for Switzerland.