National Council committee does not want to cut funding for foreign aid
Published: Tuesday, Nov 5th 2024, 19:30
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Over the next four years, the federal government will have around CHF 11.3 billion at its disposal for aid abroad. The responsible committee of the National Council does not want to cut these loans. Part of the funds are to go to Ukraine.
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council (FAC-N) adopted the three parts of the International Cooperation Strategy (IC) 2025 to 2028 by 14 votes to 11 and 14 votes to 10 respectively, as reported by the Parliamentary Services on Tuesday.
Reallocation for Ukraine
The Commission thus agreed with the Council of States. It approved the almost CHF 11.3 billion for the implementation of the IC strategy last September. It agreed to the reallocation of funds in favor of reconstruction in Ukraine.
The Federal Council is requesting roughly the same amount for foreign aid in the years 2025 to 2028 as at present. However, 13 percent of the money is to go to Ukraine. Development cooperation, humanitarian aid, peacebuilding measures and measures to strengthen human rights are also to be financed.
During the consultation process, it was criticized that aid for Ukraine should not come at the expense of support for other countries. Despite this demand, the Federal Council included aid to the war-torn country in its IC strategy.
Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis justified this with the needs on the ground in Ukraine and with Switzerland's existing work in the country and the relationships of trust that have been established. Helping Ukraine is also in Switzerland's interests in terms of security policy.
By 12 votes to 12 and with a casting vote by President Laurent Wehrli (FDP/VD), the APK-N decided that reconstruction aid in Ukraine should be provided by Swiss companies if possible. With a motion, the APK-N also called for a legal basis for aid in Ukraine based on a law.
Focus on education and health
In terms of foreign aid, the APK-N wants to focus on education and health. Accordingly, a majority of the committee wants to extend foreign health policy from 2019 to 2024 and deploy Swiss expertise in education as part of international cooperation.
With its decision not to cut the IC strategy, the APK-N is going against the Finance Committee of the National Council (FK-N). The latter is proposing to cut the IC funds by one billion francs to 10.3 billion francs.
Economic development cooperation is to receive CHF 200 million less and development cooperation CHF 800 million less. The FK-N justified this proposal with decisions on the payment framework for the army for the next four years.
Motions for more money rejected
Both councils want to make CHF 29.8 billion available to the army, CHF 4 billion more than requested by the Federal Council. This is what they have decided on the payment framework for the next four years. The army budget should reach one percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030 and not just 2035.
Following its decisions on the IC strategy, the APK-N rejected three motions from the Center, SP and GLP parliamentary groups calling for more money for humanitarian aid in Ukraine. The requested contribution should have been based on comparable countries and related to economic performance.
A motion from the Green parliamentary group calling for a support program for Ukraine of at least CHF 5 billion was withdrawn. The National Council has already rejected a similar motion once. A motion with the same demand is pending in the Council of States. This also came from the ranks of the Greens.
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