Peacebuilding
Switzerland participates in civilian and military peace operations conducted by international organisations and seconds experts from the Swiss Expert Pool for Civilian Peacebuilding (SEP) and Swiss military personnel to them. It also participates in EU peacekeeping operations carried out within the framework of its Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).
Since the CSDP became operational in 2003, Switzerland and the EU have been cooperating on individual peace support operations, with Switzerland seconding experts and members of the Swiss Armed Forces to EU civilian and military missions. Current secondments include a maximum of 26 members of the Swiss Armed Forces to EUFOR Althea, the EU military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as two civilian experts to the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) and two experts to the EU Advisory Mission on Civilian Security Sector Reform in Mali (EUCAP Sahel Mali).
On 5 March 2026, Switzerland and the EU concluded a framework participation agreement (FPA) that simplifies the administrative procedures for Switzerland’s participation in EU peace missions. The FPA creates a clear legal and administrative framework for possible Swiss contributions to EU civilian and military missions in future. It simplifies the procedures for secondments without entering into new obligations, whereby Switzerland will continue to decide whether to participate in specific instances on a case-by-case basis.
Documents
Contact
State Secretariat STS-FDFA
Federal Palace East
3003 Bern