The Swiss Federal Council has approved Switzerland's participation in two projects under the European Union's Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), marking a significant step in the neutral country's defence cooperation with the EU.

The decision, announced on Wednesday, will see Switzerland join the "Military Mobility" and "Cyber Ranges Federation" projects, both aimed at enhancing international cooperation between armed forces.

The "Military Mobility" project, coordinated by the Netherlands and involving 25 EU member states along with Canada, Norway, and the United States, seeks to streamline cross-border military transport in Europe. For Switzerland, this could expedite approvals for missions abroad, particularly for training and peace support operations.

"The simplification of procedures will have a positive effect on Switzerland's missions abroad," the Federal Council stated, emphasising that participation would not compromise the country's case-by-case approach to transport applications.

The "Cyber Ranges Federation" project aims to bolster cyber defence capabilities by connecting computer simulation environments across participating nations. This initiative, currently involving eight EU countries, will allow for more complex and realistic training scenarios, potentially enhancing Switzerland's cyber defence readiness.

Switzerland plans to integrate its Cyber Training Range into specific exercises as needed, providing its personnel with a more diverse virtual training environment.

The Federal Council stressed that Switzerland's involvement in these projects aligns with its neutrality obligations. The country will not participate in exercises involving belligerent states, and the specifics of cooperation will be outlined in a non-binding administrative arrangement.

This move follows Switzerland's recent efforts to intensify security policy cooperation with the EU, as outlined in various government reports since 2021. It also builds upon the high-level Security and Defence Dialogue established between Switzerland and the EU in 2023.

The decision reflects Switzerland's commitment to strengthening its national defence capabilities while engaging in targeted international cooperation. However, Swiss participation still requires approval from the involved states and the Council of the European Union.

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