Second Yes to more flexibility for war material exports
Published: Tuesday, Nov 7th 2023, 18:40
Updated At: Wednesday, Nov 8th 2023, 00:54
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In exceptional cases, the Federal Council should be able to deviate from the licensing criteria for war material exports and act more flexibly. Following the lead of the Council of States, the responsible National Council committee also wants to amend the recently tightened War Material Act.
The National Council's Security Policy Committee (SIK-N) proposed to the upper chamber by 14 votes to 9 that a corresponding motion from the Council of States be adopted, as reported by the parliamentary services on Tuesday.
The motion demands that the Federal Council should be able to deviate from the approval criteria for foreign transactions in the case of war material if there are exceptional circumstances. It should also be able to do so if this is necessary to safeguard the country's foreign or security policy interests.
"Not a free pass"
The Federal Council must inform the Security Policy Committees of the Councils of its decision within 24 hours. If the deviation from the approval criteria is implemented by ordinance, it must be limited in time.
The majority of the SIK-N believes that flexibility is necessary. The Federal Council should be able to adapt export policy to changing foreign and security policy circumstances. The requested amendment to the law is not a free pass for exports, according to the press release.
This is because the requested article of law sets a clear framework. Legal bases relevant to exports and obligations under international law remain applicable. However, the majority also points to the capacities of the Swiss arms industry and its reliability. The capacities of these companies are central to national defense.
"Undemocratic" and "dishonest"
Certain tightening measures that were decisive for the withdrawal of the popular initiative "Against arms exports to countries at civil war (corrective initiative)" remain in place, the majority also argues.
This is where the minority comes in. It calls it "undemocratic" to now reverse the achievement of the popular initiative with a motion. And even with the amendment to the War Material Act, neutral Switzerland could not supply Ukraine with war material. This would violate the principle of equal treatment.
The minority also considers the request to be dishonest. This is because it would help the arms industry so that it could ultimately supply war material more easily again.
Initiative brought about tightening
Parliament adopted the stricter rules for arms exports from Switzerland in 2021 as an indirect counter-proposal to the corrective initiative. The initiative was subsequently withdrawn. There is still more movement in parliament when it comes to war material exports.
The SIK-N is working on a draft law that would allow certain countries to re-export war material purchased in Switzerland under certain conditions. At present, Switzerland is not permitted to approve foreign requests for the re-export of Swiss weapons to Ukraine.
The SIK-N rejected a motion to put the motion on hold until this work had been completed by 15 votes to 9. Nor did the committee want to amend the motion with regard to safeguarding the right to neutrality.
The Federal Council also supports the motion. It originates from the Security Policy Committee of the Council of States. The Council of States adopted it in the fall, against the wishes of the SP and the Greens. If the National Council says yes to the motion - probably in December - the Federal Council can tackle the amendment to the law.
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