brief outline

Switzerland has taken part in the Partnership for Peace (PfP) since 1996. PfP is a political initiative supported by NATO and 22 partner states. The aim of PfP is to strengthen democracy, peace and security in Europe and to jointly seek responses to common threats. Cooperation is intended to foster trust and transparency in the delicate area of security policy.

Switzerland's participation in PfP is complemented by membership of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) formed in 1997. The EAPC is the Partnership's forum for political consultation and sets the guidelines for practical cooperation in the PfP.

For Switzerland the Partnership for Peace is an important security policy forum. It enables Switzerland to put forth directly its interests with regard to NATO and other partner states as well as benefit from the exchange of information and experiences. Many of the current threats and dangers know no borders. The Euro-Atlantic states are therefore all faced with the same security policy challenges.

The cooperation within the Partnership for Peace is grounded on a purely voluntary basis and entails no legal obligations. Each state is able to determine the extent of its participation in the Partnership. Participation in the Partnership is therefore also possible for neutral states such as Switzerland.