Army services to be provided on behalf of the EURO 2008

Berne - At a press conference, Benedikt Weibel, Delegate of the Federal Council for the EURO 2008 and Division Commander, Peter Stutz, Commander in Chief of Army Operational Headquarters, together with the Head of Police and Military for the Canton of Berne, Han-Jürg Käser, presented the roles and concrete deployment concept of the armed forces within the scope of the EURO 2008. They confirmed that the civil authorities will define what is to be required of the armed forces, which shall provide their subsidiary deployment accordingly.

The federal government shall ensure public safety and security at the EURO 2008 together with the cantons and the four host cities. The manpower available among the police forces and private security services are insufficient to meet this challenge. The Swiss Parliament therefore has approved the deployment of 15,000 armed forces personnel maximum to support civil security forces during the EURO 2008. Their area of responsibility shall extend from the protection of objects, to construction and demolition tasks and to aerial reconnaissance flights. The armed forces shall supply these services in a subsidiary manner. The civil authorities shall remain in charge of the deployment.

“We want to celebrate the EURO 2008 as a festival and do not wish to erect a fortress!” In accordance with this motto, the security forces will be present during the EURO, but shall remain in the background. The Rules of Engagement have been determined by the civil authorities together with the armed forces. The objective of the police and army deployment is to ensure the trouble-free conducting of the EURO 2008 and to undertake appropriate security precautions. The Canton of Berne Councilman, Hans-Jürg Käser, pointed out that the armed forces will not perform any crowd control services. “I am convinced that the cooperation between the civil authorities, the police and the army will function well and in accordance with the assignment.”

“This event is a real plus for the armed forces,” stated Division Commander Peter Stutz. The EURO 2008 offers the military an excellent opportunity to practice cooperation with its civil partners on all levels and to exercise an authentic co-command over a period of several weeks.

The EURO 2008 represents a unique opportunity that will be unlikely to present itself to Switzerland again in this form in the coming decades. Switzerland is viewed internationally as a reliable, punctual and friendly nation and now has the opportunity to confirm and strengthen its reputation during the EURO 2008.

For inquiries: Barbara Meier
Head of Communications
UEFA EURO 2008 Public Authorities Project Organisation
079 244 66 65

UEFA EURO 2008 Public Authorities Project Organisation website
http://www.switzerland.com

Armed Forces civil support service for EURO 08
http://www.armee.ch/euro08

Communiqué of 13 September 2006 regarding the federal government’s decision on the deployment of the Army for assistance service to support the civil authorities during the 2008 European Football Championship (UEFA EURO 2008) (BBl 2006 8179).
http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/ff/2006/8179.pdf

National Swiss Security Strategy for the UEFA EURO 2008
http://www.switzerland.com/files/?id=2086

Tip: In the early evening of 10th April, fresh photos of the first soldiers deployed on behalf of the EURO 2008 will be available on the armed forces website. It is planned that the image agency Keystone will provide photos of this first deployment.

Published by: Project Organisation Swiss Authorities EURO 2008 on 10.04.2008 at 11:21:00
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