Swiss Parliament eases restrictions on arms exports
The Swiss parliament has voted to ease restrictions on arms exports in order to support the domestic military industry. This was reported by the Reuters news agency on December 4.
"The domestic military industry can exist only if it can export its products, and to countries that have the same export control regime as in our country," said Brigitte Heberly—Koller, a deputy from the Centrist Party.
It is noted that the decision to ease restrictions was made after enterprises and politicians expressed concern about the level of damage to the country's military–industrial complex caused by restrictions on arms supplies.
Currently, Switzerland does not export weapons to countries that are involved in internal or international conflict, or where human rights are seriously violated. In the future, Swiss companies will be allowed to export weapons to 25 Western countries, and the rules requiring consent for the re-export of Swiss weapons will be relaxed.
However, the authors of the article clarify that the direct export of weapons to Ukraine will remain prohibited.
On October 19, former Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl pointed out that Austria and Switzerland had actually renounced their status as neutral states. According to her, the state has never allowed the transit of weapons to other countries before.
In June, the Council of Cantons of Switzerland supported the lifting of the ban on the re-export of weapons to military conflict zones. According to this decision, Switzerland will be able to export weapons to NATO countries, except in exceptional circumstances and in cases where this "contradicts the foreign policy or political interests" of the country.
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