Unification Conference must deal with contribution to UNRWA
Published: Wednesday, Dec 20th 2023, 10:02
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The 2024 budget goes to the agreement conference. In the third round of consultations on Wednesday, the National Council insisted on the removal of the contribution to the UN Palestinian Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and a contribution to the Regional Policy Fund.
By 106 votes to 85 with one abstention, the large chamber voted for a third time to cancel the UNRWA contribution altogether. This involves 20 million francs.
The Council of States originally did not want any cuts at all. However, as a compromise, it proposed to the upper chamber that the corresponding budget item be reduced by CHF 10 million. According to the proposal, the Federal Council would not necessarily have to save the amount at UNRWA.
As in the National Council's previous deliberations, a conservative majority justified its position by claiming that UNRWA employees had glorified terror against Israel. The opposing side considered the accusations to be insufficiently substantiated, emphasized the importance of the organization for aid to the population in the Gaza Strip and feared damage to Switzerland's reputation.
The National Council also rejected a second compromise proposal on the promotion of regional business locations. The small chamber had offered to halve a contribution of CHF 25 million to the regional policy fund. However, the National Council still wants to do without it completely.
The National Council has the upper hand in the upcoming budget negotiations. If one chamber of parliament rejects the proposal of the conciliation conference, the decision of the council that provides for less expenditure will apply.
The financial plan for the years 2025 to 2027 will also be a topic at the agreement conference. The Council of States wants military spending to increase to 1% of gross domestic product by 2030. Like the Federal Council, the National Council wants to extend the deadline to 2035. It narrowly maintained its position on Wednesday by 98 votes to 97 with one abstention.
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