President Parmelin meets with President Mattarella and Deputy Prime Minister Tajani in Rome
Rome, 05.05.2026 — On Tuesday, 5 May, President Guy Parmelin met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in Rome. The talks focused on bilateral relations, security issues and competitiveness in Europe, as well as current international affairs. The response to the devastating fire in Crans Montana was also discussed. On 6 May, President Parmelin will attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new Swiss Guards at the Vatican. During his visit, he will meet Pope Leo XIV and Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.
During the talks between the representatives of Switzerland and Italy, both sides emphasised their solidarity in the face of the grief felt for the victims and those injured on New Year’s Eve. President Parmelin expressed his gratitude for Italy’s solidarity in response to the tragedy and outlined Switzerland’s support for the victims and their families. Among other things, they discussed the round table that Switzerland is establishing to bring together the victims, their families, the insurance companies concerned, potential liable parties and the relevant authorities. The devastating fire in Crans Montana was addressed during discussions between Mr Parmelin and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Monday on the sidelines of the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Yerevan.
Both sides recognised the economic, scientific and cultural ties between Switzerland and Italy. Goods worth more than CHF 1 billion are traded between the two countries every week. They are also linked by close scientific ties, as well as by their shared national language. Cooperation in the field of migration was also discussed.
Mr Parmelin outlined the next steps for the package of agreements aimed at stabilising and further developing relations between Switzerland and the EU. The agenda also included European competitiveness and the European security architecture. Other international issues discussed included transatlantic relations, the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, and the situation in the Middle East.
Swearing-in ceremony for new recruits to the Swiss Guard
On Wednesday, 6 May, President Parmelin will meet Pope Leo XIV and Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin at the Vatican and attend the swearing-in ceremony for the new recruits to the Pontifical Swiss Guard. The agenda for these high-level meetings includes cooperation between Switzerland and the Holy See on matters relating to peacebuilding and international issues. The swearing-in ceremony traditionally takes place on 6 May – in memory of the 147 Swiss Guards who lost their lives during the ‘Sacco di Roma’ in 1527.
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