In addition, both countries will be able to issue visas on each other’s behalf. Minister of Foreign Affairs Frans Timmermans signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect with his Swiss counterpart Didier Burkhalter today.
Many countries are closing diplomatic and consular missions abroad. Opportunities for cooperation are being explored at EU level on the basis of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Since Switzerland is not a member of the EU, the Netherlands and Switzerland have reached their own agreement to fulfil the most urgent tasks on each other’s behalf where necessary. Like the Netherlands, Switzerland is also a member of the Schengen area, so both countries can also issue visas on each other’s behalf. The Netherlands already does this for Switzerland in Oman, Suriname, Aruba and Curaçao, and Switzerland reciprocates in Madagascar.
