Switzerland Receives EU Approval to Join Multinational Cybersecurity Project

The European Union has officially approved Switzerland’s participation in a multinational European cybersecurity initiative, Defense News reported.

The decision paves the way for Switzerland to join the Cyber Ranges Federations project, an effort led by Estonia under the EU’s Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) framework.

According to Defense News, it’s a notable step in military cooperation between Switzerland and the EU, despite Bern’s long-standing policy of armed neutrality.

Swiss officials emphasized that the country’s involvement in the PESCO framework does not compromise its neutral stance.

Authorities described the cooperation as “one-off and thematic participation in individual projects that serve mutual interests and do not create critical dependencies that could undermine neutrality.”

Switzerland applied to join the Cyber Ranges Federations project in October 2024, shortly after submitting an application to participate in a separate military mobility initiative.

Two procedural steps remain before Switzerland can become a full participant: Estonia must issue a formal invitation, and Bern must sign an administrative agreement with the EU covering data exchange and other technical aspects of cooperation.

The Cyber Ranges Federations project aims to centralize cyber defense capabilities, integrate national services, and automate processes across participating states. The initiative is intended to streamline military cyber exercises and speed up the development of next-generation cybersecurity technologies.

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, France, Italy, Luxembourg, and Estonia are already part of the project.

Under the EU’s 2020 rules for third-country participation in PESCO, non-member states can join specific projects if they align with EU values and pose no threat to member-state security. The EU Council confirmed that Switzerland meets the political, legal, and operational criteria and will provide “substantial added value and mutual benefit” to the program.

This is not Switzerland’s first foray into EU defense projects. In January 2025, it was granted permission to join the Military Mobility Initiative, following an application in September 2024.

Switzerland is also a participant in the European Sky Shield Initiative, which aims to bolster EU air defense by coordinating procurement of air and missile defense systems. As part of the initiative, Switzerland plans to acquire IRIS-T surface-to-air missile systems.