The principle of neutrality, on which Switzerland’s foreign policy is based, is being called into question. What are its foundations and to what extent are they still valid? Parliamentarians will discuss these questions at the Parliamentary Foreign Policy Day on 8 September 2022 at the Parliament Building. The event will be chaired by the presidents of the two foreign affairs committees, National Council member Franz Grüter (SVP/LU) and Council of States member Pirmin Bischof (The Centre/SO).

Two major events have recently shaken Swiss foreign policy, calling into question its main foreign policy instrument and the country’s principle of neutrality: Switzerland’s election as a non-permanent member to the Security Council of the United Nations (UN) for 2023–2024 and Russia’s military assault on Ukraine. The resumption of EU sanctions against Russia and Switzerland’s future role in the UN Security Council have reopened the debate on neutrality. The compatibility of certain measures and Switzerland’s position with regard to traditional activities on the international scene have, in particular, raised questions. The aim of the event will be to understand the origins and foundations of Swiss neutrality and to put them into perspective with other concepts of neutrality in order to reflect further on its future.

The day will be divided into two thematic blocks. The first half will be devoted to examining neutrality in two other European countries, namely Finland and Austria, and how they are addressing neutrality in the face of current challenges. The discussion will draw parallels with Switzerland and look at future perspectives. Participants will hear from Johanna Rainio-Niemi, Assistant Professor of Political History at the University of Helsinki, and Peter Hilpold, Professor of International Law, European Law and Comparative Public Law at the University of Innsbruck. The second block will focus on the historical and legal foundations of Swiss neutrality, with the aim of understanding the rationale of neutrality and the context in which it exists. This block will be supported by presentations from Matthieu Gillabert, Professor of Contemporary History at the University of Fribourg, and Marco Sassòli, Professor of International Law at the University of Geneva.

The invitation to the event was sent to the presidents and vice-presidents of the National Council and the Council of States, to the members of the Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) and the Political Institutions Committee (PIC), to the permanent delegations to international parliamentary assemblies, and to the permanent delegations responsible for relations with the parliaments of neighbouring countries.

At the end of the event (at around 2:45pm), the presidents of the FAC will be available to journalists for a press briefing in front of conference room 325. Accreditation requests should be sent to information@parl.admin.ch.