The Swiss Security Network during a crisis

The Swiss Security Network serves primarily as a consultative and coordination body in normal situations, or in other words, before and after a crisis. It is not, however, responsible for crisis management; in principle, this should be carried out through the normal chain of responsibility. The Swiss Security Network has been given a clearer profile in this respect to ensure that there is no duplication of tasks, but that existing forms of cooperation are improved.

In crisis management, the close cooperation between and mutual involvement of the Confederation and cantons is essential. At operational level this is regulated in relation to the police command staff; the Federal Civil Protection Crisis Management Board has developed methods of working more closely with the cantons, in particular to ensure that there is a nationally coordinated situation analysis and national management of resources.
 

In the following remarks, “major exercises” means large-scale, one or more-day general exercises for staff at operational and/or strategic levels that are used to test inter-departmental cooperation and/or cooperation with the cantons and critical infrastructures.

They are:

• Security Network exercises (SNE)
• Strategic leadership exercises
• Major exercises for the armed forces
• General emergency exercises
• Cantonal / inter-cantonal exercises

A general plan for major exercises for a period of at least eight years (four years of binding plans, four further years of provisional planning) is submitted to the Federal Council every four years.