Foreign affairs
Lugano expects 1,000 delegates for OSCE ministerial meeting
Switzerland is preparing to host about 1,000 people for the OSCE Ministerial Council in Lugano on December 3 and 4. The federal government will cover 80% of the canton’s security costs for the meeting.
Around 1,000 people are expected in Lugano on December 3 and 4 for the 33rd OSCE Ministerial Council, bringing delegations from across the organisation’s participating states and partner countries to Ticino. Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis and representatives of the canton outlined preparations on Monday, November 2. The gathering will focus on security issues in the OSCE area. Switzerland holds the organisation’s chairmanship in 2026, placing the ministerial meeting in Lugano during the country’s year leading the forum.
Share the security bill
The federal government will cover 80% of Ticino’s security costs for the meeting. The arrangement places most of the conference’s security bill with the Confederation while the canton provides security for the event. The expected gathering includes representatives from 57 OSCE participating states and 12 partner countries. Together, the delegations will meet in Lugano for two days of talks on security issues across the OSCE area.
Wait for final attendance
The attendance of Sergey Lavrov and Marco Rubio may be confirmed only on the eve of the meeting. Cassis said organisers typically know whether Russia’s foreign minister and the US secretary of state will attend about 24 hours before the conference begins. The two-day council is scheduled for December 3 and 4. Their possible presence is one part of the attendance picture as delegations prepare to gather in Lugano.
Put Switzerland in the chair
Switzerland will host the council during its 2026 OSCE chairmanship. The meeting brings delegations from the organisation’s 57 participating states and 12 partner countries to Lugano to discuss security issues in the OSCE area. Ticino will host the event on December 3 and 4, with the federal government covering four-fifths of the canton’s security costs.