For its participation in the Partnership for Peace programme Switzerland lays several thematic emphases as indicated by its own security policy interests and requirements. Switzerland contributes according to these emphases in the form of projects and training options. Switzerland engages itself in fields where it is able to benefit because of its own interests and requirements or where it is able to offer it'a partners expertise.

Switzerland defines its emphases and activities in Partnership for Peace in a cooperation programme that is annually approved by the Federal Council. On this basis Switzerland agrees with NATO annually an individual partnership and cooperation programme.

Preservation and improvement of military interoperability is an important goal of the Partnership for Peace programme. In this way prerequisites are established for joint participation of NATO member states and non-member states in peace support or humanitarian relief operations. For this purpose, Switzerland participates in exercises on a case-by-case basis. Switzerland adheres strictly to its neutrality.

Security policy training

Within the Partnership for Peace programme Switzerland offers a range of courses and training programmes through which it offers its expertise to other partners. At the same time, Switzerland benefits from the experience other countries share with it.

Since the beginning of its participation in the Partnership for Peace programme, Switzerland has been involved in security policy training. With the three ‘Geneva centres’ (Geneva Centre for Security Policy; GCSP; Geneva International Centre for humanitarian Demining; GICHD, and the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed forces, DCAF) Switzerland has three important instruments for imparting knowledge and providing support, who also provide services in support of the Partnership for Peace programme.

International humanitarian law

As state that founded the Red Cross organisation and as depository state of the Geneva Conventions strengthening international humanitarian law is a traditional focus of Swiss foreign policy. Switzerland therefore also offers its partners within the Partnership for Peace programme courses on the principles of international humanitarian law. Switzerland thus helps to establish the basic rules of international law in the armed forces of the Euro-Atlantic region.

One of the original goals of the Partnership for Peace programme was the support of former communist states in their security policy reform efforts. Therefore, Switzerland has been engaged from the start in building security structures and promoting their democratic control. She has supported security policy reforms in several transition states (countries undergoing a change in their political and economic system) in east and south-east Europe. With the DCAF Switzerland has a centre of excellence at its disposal that takes the international lead in the field of security sector reform.

Support projects

In the Partnership for Peace programme Switzerland also supports specific projects on the ground. One example are the trust fund projects. Several NATO states and partner states are jointly involved in these long-term projects, for instance to destroy anti-personnel mines, weapons or ammunition or to transform military grounds into areas that can be used for civilian purposes.