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The Federal Council has given a new economic tightening once morest Russia and wants to activate a simple reception procedure for refugees.
Switzerland supports the strict European sanctions.
20min/Celia Nogler
The Federal Council remains inflexible: to the great displeasure of the demands of the SVP (see box), it maintains its course and decided on Friday to toughen the sanctions once morest Russia, continuing to align itself with those enacted by the European Union. Guy Parmelin announced that Switzerland joined the exclusion of seven Russian banks from the Swift system.
In addition, the number of people and companies subject to economic sanctions is growing: there are 677 people, including many members of the Russian Parliament as well as relatives of Vladimir Putin who appear on the list as of this Friday at 6 p.m.
The SVP is the only party that criticizes the action of the Federal Council. The party believes that Switzerland must stick to stricter neutrality with regard to sanctions once morest Russia. In addition, he asks that Switzerland opts for aid to refugees in the countries bordering Ukraine, where the majority are, rather than associating itself with a European distribution. “Priority must be given to on-site aid and not to repairing, from Portugal to Sweden, displaced persons,” says the UDC. If Ukrainian refugees were to put their suitcases in Switzerland, the SVP would like them to be accommodated centrally in federal centers rather than distributed in the cantons and with individuals.
Coordinated welcome
Karin Keller-Sutter gave news of the issues surrounding the reception of refugees. The Federal Council is consulting on the activation of the “S” protection status, which allows Ukrainians to come to Switzerland for more than 90 days (current limit with the Schengen agreements) without having to apply for asylum. The question will be more delicate for people domiciled in Ukraine without a permanent permit there and who are not citizens of a Schengen permit. On the other hand, these should go through the asylum procedure if necessary. However, the status granted to Ukrainians will allow them to send their children to school in Switzerland during their stay here.
Full throttle on for other gas sources
Finally, Simonetta Sommaruga spoke regarding gas supply. Half of what Switzerland imports comes from Russia and imports are now complicated. A priori, according to her, no fear of energy shortage for this winter, but we must prepare for next winter. The Federal Council has decided to relax the rules so that the Swiss gas industry can quickly increase its storage capacities abroad, as well as obtain more liquid natural gas.