Unification conference presents compromise proposals
Published: Wednesday, Dec 20th 2023, 17:31
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In the dispute over the Swiss contribution to the Palestinian relief organization UNRWA, the Conciliation Conference has made a compromise proposal. It proposes cutting the Foreign Ministry's credit for humanitarian activities by CHF 10 million. The Federal Council should be able to decide for itself exactly where to save the amount.
The finance committees of both chambers presented their proposed solutions at a point de presse in Bern on Wednesday afternoon. The aim is to resolve the final differences between the National Council and the Council of States on the 2024 budget and the financial plan for the years 2025 to 2027.
The Council of States originally wanted to approve CHF 20 million for UNRWA. The National Council, however, voted to cancel the contribution.
The Unification Conference motion does not mention UNRWA by name. It consists of two elements: The funding cut of CHF 10 million and framework conditions for the disbursement of humanitarian aid. The funds would have to be disbursed in tranches - and it is explicitly stated that they are to be used exclusively for the benefit of the civilian population.
According to the proposal, the Federal Council must also regularly report to the parliamentary foreign affairs committees on federal contributions for humanitarian aid. However, if the motion is accepted, the national government would in principle remain free to spend CHF 20 million as planned to support UNRWA - as Switzerland had originally promised the United Nations.
The two chambers have also disagreed so far on the promotion of regional business locations. On this point, the conciliation conference is resubmitting a compromise proposal from the Council of States to both chambers of Parliament. This would halve the CHF 25 million contribution to the Regional Policy Fund originally requested by the Federal Council - but not completely eliminate it, as the National Council had previously wanted.
On Thursday morning, the National Council and Council of States will decide on the proposal of the Unification Conference. The financial plan for the years 2025 to 2027 will also be discussed once again.
Army spending: For deadline until 2035
The Unification Conference requested that the deadline for increasing military spending be extended to 1% of gross domestic product by 2035. The position of the National Council thus prevailed in the negotiations of the Conference of Ministers. The Council of States had previously demanded that the target value be reached by 2030.
If there are still differences between the Councils after three detailed discussions of a draft decree in each Council, the committees of both Councils entrusted with the matter shall each send thirteen members to the conciliation conference.
The latter submits an agreement proposal to both councils, which is intended to settle all remaining differences.
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