Federal Council receives Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein for state visit

On Wednesday, 3 April, His Serene Highness Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein was welcomed to Switzerland by the full Federal Council led by President Ueli Maurer. The Hereditary Prince, who performs the duties of head of state, is being accompanied on the visit by his spouse, Her Royal Highness Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein, and a high-ranking delegation from the Principality. During official talks at the Bernerhof the delegations acknowledged the 100th anniversary of bilateral relations and discussed European affairs and cooperation between the two countries in an international context.

Both sides stressed the friendly ties that exist between Switzerland and Liechtenstein. President Maurer stated that ties between the two countries could hardly be any closer. 2019 marks the 100th anniversary of the exceptionally close political relations between Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The official talks at the Bernerhof were attended on the Swiss side by President Ueli Maurer and federal councillors Ignazio Cassis and Karin Keller-Sutter. The delegation from Liechtenstein also included Prime Minister Adrian Hasler, Deputy Prime Minister Daniel Risch and Minister Aurelia Frick.

The talks also addressed a number of common challenges faced by the two countries such as digital transformation, migration and financial and taxation issues. The members of the Federal Council and the Liechtenstein delegation stressed the importance of well-functioning international rules, both in the financial sector and in terms of migration.

In addition, the two sides touched on current developments in Europe, particularly with regard to the UK’s planned withdrawal from the European Union, and the European policies of Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The Principality of Liechtenstein is part of the Swiss economic and customs area and has been a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) for almost 25 years. The delegations commended the excellent cooperation between the two countries in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and at the UN, where both states are committed to a strong and efficient multilateral system.

Second day in Lausanne and Vevey

The first day will round off with a gala dinner in Bern. President Maurer and the princely couple will then spend the second day of the visit in western Switzerland, where the emphasis will be on research and innovation. The tour will take in the Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and a research centre that develops vegan food products. The state visit will conclude in the afternoon with a boat trip from Vevey on Lake Geneva.

Last modification 03.04.2019