Federal Council approves gas deal with Germany and Italy. St. Gallen plans to make it mandatory to support children in the communities

Progress is progressing on the planned solidarity agreement for gas supplies in emergencies between Switzerland, Germany and Italy. On Friday, the Federal Council gave the green light for the signing of the trilateral agreement. Parliament will decide.

In January, Energy Minister Albert Rösti announced during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos GR that the three countries want to conclude the gas treaty soon. Even if the energy situation in Europe has now improved compared to the past two winters, such an agreement would “make sense” in an emergency, Rösti said. You want to be prepared for the future.

Now the time has come: the entire Federal Council has authorized Rösti to sign a corresponding annex to this agreement, as he announced. In addition, the responsible departments have been instructed to submit a consultation template by May with the ratification application and the required commitment appropriations. Parliament will decide on this.

Agreement as a last resort

Switzerland does not have its own gas storage facilities. It depends on the neighboring countries. Without a contract, there is a risk that neighboring countries could reduce their gas supplies to Switzerland in the event of a shortage.

The trilateral solidarity agreement is intended to regulate mutual gas supplies in emergency situations – for example, so that hospitals and households can receive a stable gas supply even in acute crises. The solidarity contracts should regulate processes and mutual obligations regarding deliveries.

According to the Federal Council, the signing of the annex to the solidarity agreement between Germany and Italy allows Switzerland to request solidarity from the two countries to supply protected Swiss customers when an emergency is declared and after all possible measures have been taken domestically .

In return, Switzerland can also be asked for solidarity in the event of an emergency. The three states also guarantee that existing transport capacities in their networks will not be limited. For Switzerland, the Federal Office for National Economic Supply (BWL) is responsible for the implementation of the solidarity agreement.

Arbitration of disputes

For solidarity deliveries, the federal government would have payment obligations. This includes the costs for gas and gas transport, as well as any compensation in connection with government measures. To ensure that the federal government can make payments when necessary, corresponding commitment loans are necessary.

On the one hand, this concerns the state guarantee to guarantee the payment of voluntary measures by Swiss market participants. On the other hand, to compensate for the sovereign measures implemented abroad in favor of Switzerland. Any payments from the federal government would then be billed to the recipients of the gas deliveries.

Disputes between the Contracting Parties that cannot be resolved by the competent authorities would be settled before an ad hoc arbitration tribunal. It will decide exclusively and decisively on all disputes that fall within the framework of the agreement.

According to the arbitration clause, all three parties must each appoint an arbitrator. The three party arbitrators appoint a fourth arbitrator as chairman. This is decisive in the event of a stalemate.

Controlled by the European Commission

Germany already has several such solidarity agreements with EU countries. Switzerland should now join the gas solidarity agreement between Germany and Italy.

The European Commission had already investigated the agreement in advance. It wanted to ensure that “intergovernmental energy agreements do not endanger the EU’s security of supply and the functioning of the internal market,” it said at the time.

If a Member State signs an agreement that is incompatible with EU law, the Commission has the option to initiate infringement proceedings against that state. (rbu/hkl/sda)