The development and production of armaments is complex and expensive. This is why international cooperation is becoming more and more important, particularly in the domain of research and development. An agreement between Switzerland and the European Defence Agency (EDA) on cooperation in the armaments sector was signed on 16 March 2012 in Brussels. The framework for cooperation - free from any legal commitments - enables Switzerland to detect armaments-policy developments at an early state and to have access to multilateral armaments cooperation in Europe, primarily in the domain of research and development, as well as procurement and maintenance of armaments. Switzerland remains free to decide on its own what information it wants to exchange within the scope of this framework, and in what projects and programmes it wishes to participate. The Framework for Cooperation is in the economic-policy and armaments-policy interests not only of Switzerland, but also in the interests of the EDA and of its Member States.

• Date of signing: 16 March 2012
• Entry into force: 16 March 2012

_{Status June 2012}