Switzerland implements its foreign policy strategy in a three-level cascading process. The Foreign Policy Strategy 2020–23 sets out the main lines and priorities. Geographic and thematic strategies guide Switzerland's activities in various priority regions and subject areas. Each strategy is approved by the Federal Council.
Swiss foreign policy: strategies and key aspects
The Foreign Policy Strategy 2020–23 (FPS 20–23) sets out the Federal Council's priorities for the current legislative period. The thematic priorities are peace and security, prosperity, sustainability and digitalisation. The strategy also describes how these priorities are to be implemented in Europe, other regions of the world and at multilateral level, and, for the first time, also lays down specific objectives.
The Federal Council has fleshed out certain areas of the FPS 2020–23 in a series of geographical and thematic follow-up strategies, which it also intends to adopt. These follow-up strategies constitute the second stage of a strategy cascading process. At the third stage in the process, the departments will ultimately develop approaches to implementing the Federal Council's strategies at operational level. With this strategy cascading process, the Federal Council seeks to achieve greater coherence in Swiss foreign policy.