President Parmelin attends European Political Community summit in Armenia and pays visit to Italy and the Holy See
Berne, 30.04.2026 — President Guy Parmelin will represent Switzerland at the eighth summit of the European Political Community (EPC), which is to be held in the Armenian capital of Yerevan on 4 May. On 5 and 6 May, Mr Parmelin will meet with Italian President Sergio Mattarella in Rome, hold talks at the Vatican with Pope Leo XIV and attend the swearing-in ceremony of new recruits to the Pontifical Swiss Guard.
The EPC summit in Yerevan on Monday, 4 May, will be held under the theme of ‘Building the future: Unity and Stability in Europe’. President Parmelin will take part in a discussion on economic security. He will also take the opportunity to hold bilateral talks while at the summit. In particular, a meeting with Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin is planned in view of Ireland’s EU Presidency in the second half of the year.
The EPC aims to strengthen political dialogue and cooperation across Europe on key common issues, and to promote security, stability and prosperity. Since the format was launched in Prague in October 2022, the summits have been held alternately within and outside the EU. The next EPC summit will be held in Ireland in the autumn. Heads of state and government are expected to visit Switzerland in the first half of 2027.
Swiss Guard ceremony on traditional date in May
Following a brief stop in Bern, President Parmelin will then travel to Italy to meet with President Sergio Mattarella in Rome on Tuesday 5 May. The talks will focus on bilateral relations between Switzerland and Italy, the tragedy in Crans-Montana, relations between Switzerland and the EU, issues relating to security and economic development in Europe, and current international affairs.
During meetings with Pope Leo XIV and Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin at the Vatican on Wednesday, 6 May, the agenda will include the construction of the new Swiss Guard barracks and cooperation between Switzerland and the Holy See on matters relating to peacebuilding. Current issues such as the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East will also be discussed.
The swearing-in ceremony for new recruits to the Swiss Guard traditionally takes place on 6 May – in memory of the Swiss Guards who lost their lives during the ‘Sacco di Roma’ (the Sack of Rome on 6 May 1527). Last year, following the death of Pope Francis, the ceremony was not held until the autumn.
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