Even in corona times, the National Council does not want to expand Switzerland's international commitment. Several motions from the Foreign Policy and Finance Committees have called for Framework credits for to increase international cooperation 2021-2024 The Council rejected them all.
The National Council has approved the framework credits estimated by the Federal Council at CHF 11.25 billion. This will probably result in an ODA quota (aide publique au développement) of 0.46% of gross national income if, like the Federal Council, expenditure on asylum seekers in Switzerland is also included in development cooperation. The international ODA benchmark recognised by Switzerland is 0.7%. Countries such as Sweden, Norway, Denmark and the United Kingdom exceed this figure by far. Minority proposals which also aimed at this target value for Switzerland were rejected.
The corona crisis affects everyone, but it does not affect everyone equally. It has massive social, economic and political consequences in the poorest countries of the world. For example, the World Bank expects up to 60 million people to fall into extreme poverty by the end of the year; the number of people suffering from hunger will double from 130 million to 265 million. The often massively indebted countries of the South will not be able to cope with this crisis alone.
Various international organisations are calling on the industrialised countries to increase their development expenditure. A group of 20 renowned economists around Nobel Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz warns in an open letter that the consequences of this crisis will also have a severe impact on the West. To prevent this, the industrialised countries should now make additional development funds available.
The National Council has failed to send a much-needed signal of international solidarity. Not only the needy people on the ground would have benefited, but another decision by the Grand Chamber would have set an example for other industrialized countries to also commit themselves to a just, sustainable and stable world without hunger and poverty. It is now up to the Council of States to correct this problematic decision of the Grand Chamber.
Press release Alliance Sud 15.6.2020. To the website of Alliance Sud
