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Delémont, 13 août 2021

Swiss security policy: A step in the right direction

The report of the Federal Council on security policy was the subject of a large-scale consultation over the summer. The GRPM welcomes the progress made in relations between Bern and companies in the defence and security industries. It believes that even further developments can be made, with more strategic objectives for the Swiss economy.

‘In order to be ready to counteract the direct and indirect effects of the international tensions and crises, Switzerland must continue to shore up its own resilience, its adaptability and its ability to rebuild (...) The aim is also to reduce reliance on the Army's equipment and arms. As a neutral country, it can't count on the military support of other nations.’ The GRPM shares the intentions of the Federal Council, particularly the strengthening of the technological and industrial base relating to security through acquisitions within Switzerland, offsets, international cooperation, applied research, promoting innovation, and exchanging information with the industry and export control policy, all taking into account the interests of security policy.

Based on the experience of the recent 2020 popular vote on the principle of acquiring new combat aircraft, the GRPM nevertheless believes that the Federal Council should go even further in its report. For the GRPM, this means being more specific and more widely applying the policy of 100% offsets for foreign purchases. Moreover, specific directives concerning indirect offsets in a series of civil industries should be politically affirmed. This is certainly the case in the ‘Policy on offsets’, but they should also be required at a higher level in the ‘Report on security policy’.

The country's security and its economy are closely linked. Often, companies and their associations are called upon to support political campaigns that promote security. They do not ask for any remuneration, and certainly not for any form of public subsidisation. In a market that must evolve on a competitive basis, they simply ask for a sustained, long-term dialogue on the Army's purchases. In many other countries, like Finland, for example, offsets form part of the four essential criteria for selecting foreign suppliers. Finnish companies are prioritised when it comes to internal orders.

GRPM, Rue des Voignous 9, 2800 Delémont / www.grpm.ch / contact@grpm.ch /
+41 (0)79 459 72 85, Philippe Zahno, general secretary