Foreign aid Council of States wants to spend 11.3 billion on aid abroad

The Council of States wants to approve a total of almost CHF 11.3 billion for aid abroad over the next four years. When discussing the strategy for international cooperation on Wednesday, it essentially followed the Federal Council's proposals.

In the overall vote, the small chamber approved each of the three federal resolutions on international cooperation (IC) with a clear majority. The SVP and FDP voted against.

A motion for referral by Benjamin Mühlemann (FDP) was unsuccessful. The Glarus native wanted the IC strategy to include savings of CHF 2 billion in favor of higher military spending.

Esther Friedli (SVP/SG) wanted to reduce the credit for development cooperation by CHF 800 million. However, her individual motion was also rejected.

Amendments from the ranks of the SP also failed to find a majority. The main issue was whether reconstruction aid to Ukraine should also be financed from the international cooperation budget.

The left wing of the Council argued that this would result in a massive cut in funding in other regions of the world. It demanded a different financing solution.

The matter will now go to the National Council.