International agreements and memberships

Switzerland is a neutral country with worldwide connections: it has ties with the European Union through a network of bilateral agreements, and it is a member of the United Nations and other international organisations. Experts and politicians from around the world meet in Geneva to work together internationally.

Europe

Agreements with the European Union EU

Switzerland is not a member of the EU, but pursues close relations with it under a bilateral approach governed by over 100 bilateral agreements primarily concluded in two packages (Bilaterals I and II):

The first package of bilateral agreements was signed in 2004. It governs further economic aspects, as well as cooperation in the fields of asylum, security, the environment and culture. There are 9 agreements, including the Schengen-Dublin agreement. Schengen facilitates transnational mobility and cooperation on justice and police. Dublin facilitates coordination on asylum proceedings.

The second series of bilateral agreements governs further economic aspects, as well as cooperation in the fields of asylum, security, the environment and culture. There are 9 agreements, including the Schengen-Dublin agreement. Schengen facilitates transnational mobility and cooperation on justice and police. Dublin facilitates coordination on asylum proceedings

In 2025, the Federal Council approved the ‘Stabilisation and further development of Swiss-EU relations’ package (Bilaterals III) negotiated with the EU. It mainly includes the updating of five existing agreements from the Bilaterals I package, participation in EU research programmes and three new agreements (electricity, health and food safety). This is intended to ensure that Switzerland continues to have unhindered access to the EU market. Parliamentary deliberations on the package will begin in 2026.

27 member states
Headquarters in Brussels
Since 1951 (formerly ECSC, EEC from 1957)

European memberships

EFTA
The European Free Trade Association promotes free trade between its members Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway. Together with the EU countries, the EFTA countries - excluding Switzerland - form the European Economic Area (EEA). Swiss voters rejected membership of the EEA in 1992.

4 member states
Headquarters in Geneva
Founded in 1960, Switzerland a founding member

Council of Europe
The Council of Europe focuses its work on promoting human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is one of the Council of Europe’s major achievements. It gives every citizen the right to lodge a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights if rights guaranteed by the ECHR have been violated – provided that all judicial avenues in Switzerland have been exhausted.

46 member states
Headquarters in Strasbourg
Secretary General: Alain Berset (CH)
Founded in 1949, Switzerland a member since 1963

World

World memberships

UN
193 states of the world belong to the United Nations. It is committed to promoting peace and international security, worldwide cooperation in solving international problems and respect for human rights. Switzerland has been a member of the UN since 2002: In a referendum, accession was accepted of Swiss voters.

193 member states
Main headquarters in New York, European headquarters in Geneva and Vienna
Founded in 1945, Switzerland a member since 2002

OSCE
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, with its participating states in North America, Europe and Asia, is the world’s largest regional security organisation. As a political forum for dialogue, it addresses a broad range of regional security issues encompassing politico-military matters, economic and environmental issues and human rights. In 2026, Switzerland will assume the chairmanship of the OSCE for the third time, after 1996 and 2014.

57 participating states
Headquarters in Vienna
Founded in 1975, Switzerland a founding member

UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, also active in the field of communication, is a forum for international cooperation and the development of global standards. Its aim is to promote solidarity among people and thereby contribute to peace, security and sustainable development.

194 member states
Headquarters in Paris
Founded in 1945, Switzerland a member since 1949

WTO
The World Trade Organization regulates and promotes global trade relations. The aim of the WTO agreements is to ensure transparent, functioning and non-discriminatory trade. WTO members undertake to comply with certain basic rules in shaping their trade relations.

166 member states
Headquarters in Geneva
Founded in 1995, Switzerland a founding member

OECD
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development is a forum for exchanging knowledge in a wide variety of fields. Its goal is to promote prosperity, quality of life and equal opportunities. The OECD develops international standards and regularly publishes international statistics and studies, including the PISA studies.

38 member states
Headquarters in Paris
Founded in 1961, Switzerland a founding member

World partnerships

NATO Partnership for Peace
As a neutral country, Switzerland is not permitted to enter into a military alliance with a mutual defence obligation. As such, Switzerland is not a member of NATO but has cooperated with it since 1996 within the framework of the Partnership for Peace and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. NATO is a political and military defence alliance of 32 European and North American countries. Together with partner countries, it works for security and peace in the transatlantic area.

32 members
Headquarters in Brussels
Founded in 1949

Neutrality
Switzerland is a neutral state.

Neutrality