This paper presents the approach of a current research project at the EPFL in the area of seismic risk management. The objective of the project is to define and test a methodology for the quantitative characterization and comparison of intervention strategies in a risk management framework. A tool to assist in the selection of an intervention strategy will be developed. The project includes a pilot project for the seismic risk management of a small town in Switzerland. The selection of an intervention strategy raises two categories of problems. The first is connected to the quality of the information available. The second is connected to the variety of the criteria integrated in the decision-making process. The use of multi-criteria methods facilitates decision-making. Concerning the type of multi-criteria methods, experience has drawn attention to the quality of the “surclassement” methods (e.g. ELECTRE), because they can deal equally with qualitative or quantitative criteria.