Live at the 98th Congress of the Swiss Abroad

Plenary session, 20 August 2022

The plenary session began with a welcome from our President Filippo Lombardi and the President of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis also addressed the Fifth Switzerland. He also answered some questions about Swiss democracy and his role as President of the Confederation for the young people from the "Swiss Challenge" camp. The programme continues with inspiring speeches and discussions by accomplished speakers.

Follow the pleneary session via live stream.  

Here you will find the entire programme of the 98^th Congress of the Swiss Abroad in overview and in detail.

Press release, 19 August 2022

The termination of the bilateral agreement between Switzerland and the EU will have negative consequences for Swiss nationals residing in the EU. At its meeting on 19 August 2022 at the start of the 98th Congress of the Swiss Abroad in Lugano, the Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA), the "parliament" of the Fifth Switzerland, adopted a resolution calling on the Federal Council to finally move forward here. A political panel with members of the Swiss parliament and an analysis by former Swiss ambassador Alexis Lautenberg provided impulses on the subject of the free movement of persons. The vote on the resolution was clear. In addition, the CSA delegates said a clear and fundamental yes to an electronic identity (E-ID).

Read the press release in German or French. 

A first important topic for the Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA) at this meeting will be the consultation procedure on the E-ID law. Also on the agenda are Switzerland's relations with the European Union, which continue to be difficult, with the maintenance of the free movement of persons being a key concern. To this end, the CSA once again strengthens the resolution already adopted in 2021 to maintain the free movement of persons. In addition, the retirement provision and Switzerland's neutrality will be discussed in the light of current events. 

Follow the meeting of the Council of the Swiss Abroad via live stream.  

Here you will find the entire programme of the 98^th Congress of the Swiss Abroad in overview and in detail.

Press conference on 16 August 2022 in Lugano

At the invitation of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA), SwissCommunity, a total of around four hundred people from over 40 countries will meet in Lugano from 19 to 21 August 2022 for the 98th Congress of the Swiss Abroad. At the media conference in Lugano, President Filippo Lombardi and Director Ariane Rustichelli presented the congress programme and the OSA's expectations of policy in favour of the Fifth Switzerland, the international community of the Swiss Abroad.

Read the press release in German, French or Italian.