[music] Dear fellow citizens, on September 27th we will vote on the popular initiative " Warning of Swiss Neutrality" . The Federal Council and Parliament recommend rejecting this initiative, not because they want less neutrality . Neutrality is one of the fundamental pillars of our country. It helps to protect our freedom, our security, and our independence . Switzerland was neutral, it is neutral, and it will remain so. However, the initiative committee wants to redefine our neutrality and enshrine new rules in our federal constitution . This would restrict cooperation with our neighboring NATO and European Union states in the security and defence sector. Such cooperation would only be possible in the event of a direct military attack on Switzerland. The initiative would also prohibit Switzerland from imposing economic sanctions against states waging war , unless the sanctions were decided by the UN. Switzerland would therefore not have been able to adopt the EU sanctions against Russia for its military attack on Ukraine . Dear fellow citizens, neutrality is not an end in itself. It is an instrument in the service of our freedom, our security, and our independence. In order to fulfill this function, it must also allow us the necessary capacity to act. For our security, Switzerland must be able to cooperate with its partners , because effective cooperation cannot be improvised when a crisis breaks out. It needs to be prepared and practiced. Switzerland is not entering into any obligations and remains independent. She adheres to the law of neutrality. Switzerland must also maintain its room for maneuver regarding sanctions. Today, the Federal Council decides on a case-by-case basis whether Switzerland will adopt sanctions. The initiative would severely restrict this possibility. The Federal Council and the majority of Parliament want strong and credible neutrality. The rules proposed by the initiative would unnecessarily restrict our country's room for maneuver in an increasingly uncertain international environment . In a time characterized by tension and uncertainty, and in which we depend more than ever on security policy partners, we do not need to redefine our neutrality. Rather, it is important. to preserve what constitutes the strength of our neutrality, its credibility and its adaptability. Therefore, the Federal Council and Parliament recommend that you reject the initiative to safeguard Swiss neutrality .