Customs duty is not buried

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The revision of the customs law by former finance minister Ueli Maurer (72) is highly controversial. So controversial that it almost threatened him with the death knell.

The leading Economic Commission of the National Council (WAK-N) again prevented this on Monday. After intensive deliberation, she voted 11 to 9, with 4 abstentions, for detailed advice on the transaction.

Lots of criticism and big resistance

Commission chairman and Central National Council member Leo Müller (64) announced this to the media on Monday in Bern. The WAK-N accepted the submission in November. Before discussing the details, she wanted to wait for statements and announced co-reports from three other committees on the template, which has been criticized repeatedly in the past.

There was already resistance to the revision of the law in the Bundesrat. The Legal Committee of the National Council later also spoke out against the bill. Reason: She was “not ready for treatment”.

The cantons in particular revolted. Your accusation: the law is not constitutional. Because the federal government ignores the police sovereignty of the cantons and gives customs officers police responsibilities.

Major concerns about weapons training

The training to become a specialist in customs and border control also led to discussions. Today, customs officers check goods and border guards check people. In the future, a person should do both. For that reason, customs specialists are also trained on the weapon. It was said that no one would be forced to learn how to use a weapon. However, some of the staff have serious reservations about this.

Politicians also criticized the fact that the reorganization of the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BASF) was already underway. In doing so, the federal government had anticipated the decision of parliament.

At the beginning of this year, the new Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter (59) made an attempt to save the legislative reform. She had a working group led by former Aargau SP country and government council member Urs Hofmann (66) analyze the problems and develop proposals for solutions.

“Differences with cantons cleared up”

Hofmann’s report has now created clarity, Leo Müller motivated his committee’s decision. “Many differences between the federal government and the cantons could be clarified.” Nevertheless, there are still outstanding points that need to be formulated in further consultation.

If the WAK-N had rejected the submission to the Bundesrat, it would have resulted in a delay of two to three years, Müller calculated. “The Commission does not want to accept this postponement. And neither do the costs that arise.”

The WAK-N wants to assure itself of the extensive advice. She has requested statements from the Federal Office of Justice on the wording and from the Federal Data Protection Commissioner to clarify the issue of data protection. She wants to start the detailed consultation of the template in May. (Okay)

Source:Blick