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Swiss Army personnel will serve for another three years as part of the Kosovo Protection Force KFOR. Parliament has voted to extend the deployment until the end of 2026.
As a second chamber, the National Council approved the extension on Thursday with 122 votes in favour, 44 against and 11 abstentions. The no votes came from the SVP group, the abstentions from the Greens. The Council of States already approved the extension of the mandate in the spring session.
With the Swisscoy mission, Switzerland proves that it is doing its part to ensure stability in the countries of the Western Balkans and security in Europe, the Federal Council argued. This is especially important in view of the war in Ukraine.
Defense Minister Viola Amherd had already said in the Council debate in March that an escalation in the region would greatly increase migratory pressure on Switzerland.
Increase possible
The parliamentary decision also gives the state government the right to increase the Swiss contingent in NATO’s multinational KFOR force indefinitely by up to 30 members of the army during the term of the mandate.
An SVP minority applied unsuccessfully not to enter into the deal, as foreign deployment of the Swiss army was incompatible with neutrality. Erich Hess (SVP/BE) was also unsuccessful with a request for rejection and a demand that Swisscoy withdraw from Kosovo before the end of 2025.
No referendums
A motion to reject the Greens was also rejected. They demanded a financial contribution to civilian peacebuilding in Kosovo on the same scale as for the Swisscoy mission. The motion to subject the extension of the mission to a referendum was also rejected.
Switzerland has been involved in NATO-led KFOR since 1999. Swisscoy currently has up to 195 members of the military. Parliament had to approve the operation because it lasts longer than three weeks and more than 100 soldiers are involved. The current mandate expires at the end of 2023. (SDA)
Source:Blick
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