Swiss foreign policy

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The foreign policy of Switzerland is aimed first line to the neutrality of the country and is therefore traditionally designed cautious. According to Article 2 of the Federal Constitution, the federal government protects the freedom and rights of the people and safeguards the independence and security of the country.

Palais des Nations in Geneva

Goals, strategies, activities

The maxims of foreign policy are laid down in the Federal Constitution (BV) :

The Confederation is committed to preserving Switzerland's independence and its welfare ; In particular, it contributes to the alleviation of misery and poverty in the world, to respect for human rights and to the promotion of democracy , to peaceful coexistence of peoples and to the preservation of the natural basis of life. (Article 54 paragraph 2 BV)

In addition to the classic goal of maintaining independence, there are also multilateral maxims for foreign policy .

The focus and priorities for the years 2016–2019 are set out in the foreign policy strategy .

The foreign policy report , which appears annually, gives an overview of the most important foreign policy activities.

Institutions

The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) is responsible for foreign policy. On behalf of the Federal Council, it designs and coordinates Swiss foreign policy to effectively safeguard Swiss interests vis-à-vis abroad. The activities of the FDFA are based on the five foreign policy objectives as defined in Article 54 of the Federal Constitution. The headquarters in Bern has six directorates: the Political Directorate, the Directorate for European Affairs (DEA), the Directorate for International Law , the Directorate for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Directorate for Resources and the Consular Directorate. Over 300 foreign representations (embassies, missions, consulates, liaison and coordination offices) are subordinate to the political directorate . The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) focuses on the development cooperation and humanitarian aid . The Swiss Humanitarian Aid Corps (SHA) and the Swiss Rescue Chain report to it.

Foreign policy instruments

Neutrality is an instrument of Swiss foreign and security policy . The status of the neutral is defined by international law.

The instruments of humanitarian foreign policy consist of humanitarian aid (Swiss Humanitarian Aid Corps, Swiss Rescue Chain, support for the ICRC) and efforts to anchor, promote and further develop international humanitarian law worldwide .

Added to this are peacebuilding (so-called good offices , organization of peace initiatives and conferences), development cooperation, security policy (Swiss contributions to strengthening international disarmament and arms control regimes), human rights policy ( Human Rights Council in Geneva, organization of international congresses), and refugee policy and foreign economic policy.

International organizations in Switzerland

Switzerland has a tradition of over 100 years in hosting international organizations. It has signed a headquarters agreement with 25 international organizations. 250 non-governmental organizations with advisory status at the United Nations are based in Switzerland. Along with New York, Geneva is one of the largest centers of international cooperation. With its International Conference Center Geneva (CICG), the federal government has a tried and tested instrument for implementing its host country policy.

The host country policy comprises five key areas:

  • Peace, security and disarmament
  • Humanitarian Affairs and Human Rights
  • health
  • Work, business and science
  • Sustainable development and conservation of natural resources

History of Swiss Foreign Policy

The achievement of independence

From the Congress of Vienna to the end of the Cold War , the sovereignty and armed neutrality of the country - flanked by humanitarian commitment - were the classic maxims and the guideline for Switzerland's foreign relations. Its origins lie in the history of the Old Confederation, which emerged from the defense and liberation from the influence of foreign powers as well as the own use of economic opportunities (income from the newly opened trade routes over the Alpine passes, etc.). The Swiss, strengthened by the successful defensive struggle, used their military reputation for economically motivated expansion efforts (Granary Veltlin, Ticino, etc.) and for additional income from mercenary services for foreign powers.

The transition to neutrality

The defeat of 1515 in the Battle of Marignano meant the end of the military policy of great power. From then on, the Swiss Confederation tried to stay out of conflicts and was de facto neutral. In view of the devastation and suffering of the civilian population caused by the Thirty Years' War in Central Europe, the Confederates decided in 1647 in the Defensionale of Wil to perpetuate armed neutrality . This was confirmed by the European powers a year later in the Peace of Westphalia . Since the Congress of Vienna in 1815, Switzerland has been obliged under international law to maintain its neutrality. The law of neutrality is recognized under international law and has been codified in the Hague Agreement on Neutrality since 1907 . The cautious foreign policy, i.e. the non-interference in so-called foreign trades (these are armed conflicts between foreign states), is considered to be the basis for the historical success of the small state of Switzerland since the Stans Agreement .

The humanitarian maxim

From 1798 to 1848 foreign policy competences were shifted from the cantons to the higher-level parliamentary statute and, with the establishment of the federal state in 1848, to the area of ​​responsibility of the Federal Assembly and the Federal Council. With the establishment of the Red Cross in 1863 and the internment of the Bourbaki Army during the Franco-Prussian War in 1871, the idea of ​​humanitarian Switzerland as an island of peace and a safe haven for refugees was born. As with the Red Cross, neutrality made the altruism and impartiality of aid and good offices credible for all those involved in the conflict. After 1945, five guiding maxims were formulated to assert state independence: neutrality (overriding), solidarity (international cooperation, peacekeeping), universality (comprehensive, ideology-free diplomatic relations), availability (international mediation, good offices) and prosperity.

The turn to multilateralism

The Federal Council responded to the increased global political and economic interdependencies ( globalization ) that began after the end of the Cold War with the report on Switzerland's foreign policy (BAS; Report 93) in which it formulated five goals and recommended stronger ties to supranational organizations (Multilateralism). The five goals were incorporated into the revised Federal Constitution in 1999 (Article 54). The people refused to join international organizations in the referendum because they feared a restriction of sovereignty and neutrality and preferred the bilateral route , among others with the EU . Neutrality continues to enjoy great popular support and they have always been careful not to jeopardize it. Nevertheless, the people voted for Switzerland to join the League of Nations in 1920 and for full membership of the UN in 2002 , after this was clearly rejected in 1986. The majority of voters were of the opinion that joining the UN would not call into question neutrality.

Codetermination of the people and the classes

The Federal Constitution regulates the participation of the people and the cantons in foreign policy: Membership in organizations for collective security or in supranational communities is subject to a mandatory referendum (Article 140). The optional referendum (Article 141) is provided for international treaties that are of unlimited duration and non-terminable, provide for membership of an international organization or contain important legal provisions .

When concluding international agreements in accordance with Article 54 Paragraph 3 BV, the Confederation takes into account the responsibilities of the cantons and safeguards their interests. The cantons participate in the preparation of foreign policy decisions that affect their responsibilities or affect their essential interests (Article 55 BV).

Important international agreements

Despite direct democratic participation rights, the people were unable to vote on a number of important agreements with far-reaching effects. The importance that the public attaches to individual agreements does not depend on their legal status. For example, the Bologna Declaration is being introduced across the board, even though it is a legally non-binding declaration of intent at ministerial level. In contrast, the European Charter of Local Self-Government , which has been ratified by Parliament and is fundamental for the preservation of democracy in Europe, is hardly known to the public.

International agreements (between governments) and international agreements (ratified by the Federal Assembly) can in principle be terminated.

Accession / vote Name of the agreement Type of agreement / legal status Referendum
1948 WHO International agreement no
1960 EFTA International agreement no
1963 OECD International agreement no
1963 Council of Europe membership no
1966 GATT membership no
December 3, 1972 EG FTA Obl. Referendum, 72.5% YES, all stands YES, turnout 53%
1975 CSCE (since 1995: OSCE ) Not binding under international law no
March 16, 1986 U.N. membership Obl. Referendum, 75.7% NO, all stands NO, participation in votes 51%
05/17/1992 Institutions of Bretton Woods ( the IMF and World Bank ) state contract Optional referendum, 56% YES, participation 39%
1992 Agenda 21 Not binding under international law no
12/06/1992 EEA membership Obl. Referendum, 50.3% NO, 14 4/2 positions NO, turnout 79%
06/12/1994 UN blue helmets (BTFO) Federal Law (Military Law) Optional referendum, 57.2% NO, participation 47%
1995 WTO International agreement none, faculty referendum did not take place
1995-1999 Bologna process Legally non-binding declaration no
1996 GATS TRIPS International agreement no
1996 PfP ( NATO ) Letter of intent no
04/18/1999 federal Constitution Total revision Obl. Referendum, 59.2% YES, 12 2/2 positions YES, participation 36%
05/21/2000 Bilateral agreements I Treaties with EU Optional referendum, 67.2% YES, participation 48%
03/04/2001 YES to Europe Constitutional initiative Popular initiative, 76.8% NO, all stands NO, participation in votes 56%
06/10/2001 Arming soldiers abroad Federal Law (Military Law) Optional referendum, 51% YES, participation 43%
06/10/2001 Training cooperation Federal Law (Military Law) Optional referendum, 51.1% YES, participation 43%
03/03/2002 U.N. membership Popular initiative, 54.6% YES, 11 2/2 stands YES, participation 58%
2002 International Criminal Court collaboration no
05/18/2003 Army XXI Federal Law (Military Law) Optional referendum, 76% YES, participation 50%
05/18/2003 Civil defense Federal law (civil protection law) Optional referendum, 80.6% YES, participation 50%
2003 European Charter of Local Self-Government European Charter no
06/05/2005 Bilateral Treaties II : Schengen Agreement , Dublin II Regulation Treaties with EU, association policy Optional referendum, 54.0% YES, participation 57%
05/21/2006 Education articles (harmonization for the global education market) Constitutional amendment Obl. Referendum, 85.6% YES, all stands YES, participation in votes 28%
11/26/2006 Eastern aid law , cohesion billion Federal law Optional referendum, 53.4% ​​YES, participation 45%
02/08/2009 Free movement of persons between Switzerland and the EU: extension to Bulgaria and Romania Contract with EU Optional referendum, 59.6% YES, participation 52%
05/17/2009 Further development of Schengen: biometric passports and travel documents Contract with EU Optional referendum, 50.1% YES, participation 39%
11/28/2010 Federal popular initiative "For the deportation of criminal foreigners (deportation initiative)" Constitutional initiative Popular initiative, 52.3% YES, 15 5/2 stands YES, participation in votes 53%
06/17/2012 Federal popular initiative "For the strengthening of the people's rights in foreign policy (treaties before the people!)" Constitutional initiative Popular initiative, 75.3% NO, all stands NO, participation 39%
06/09/2013 Amendment of September 28, 2012 to the Asylum Act (AsylG) (urgent amendments to the Asylum Act) Federal Act (Asylum Act) Optional referendum, 78.4% YES, participation 39%
02/09/2014 Federal popular initiative "Against mass immigration" Constitutional initiative Popular initiative, 50.3% YES, 12 5/2 stands YES, participation 56%

Personalities of Swiss foreign policy

See also

literature

  • Paul Widmer: Swiss Foreign Policy and Diplomacy. From Charles Pictet de Rochemont to Edouard Brunner . Ammann Verlag, Zurich 2003, ISBN 3-250-10432-9 .
  • Wolfgang Gieler & Moritz Botts (eds.): Foreign policy of European states, from Albania to Cyprus . Political science text and study books. Scientia Bonnensis, Bonn 2007, ISBN 978-3-940766-01-4 .
  • Ernst Wetter and Rodolfo Olgiati: The Swiss Donation 1944–1948 . Activity report, Central Office for Swiss Donations, Bern 1949.
  • Markus Schmitz and Bernd Haunfelder : Humanity and Diplomacy. Switzerland in Cologne 1940–1949 . Verlag Aschendorff, Münster 2001, ISBN 3-402-05385-3 .
  • Markus Schmitz: West Germany and Switzerland after the war. The reorganization of bilateral relations 1945–1952 . Verlag Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Zurich 2003, ISBN 3-03823-037-5 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation, Article 54. The Federal Council, The Portal of the Swiss Government, accessed on September 7, 2019 .
  2. ↑ Foreign policy strategy, March 2016. Swiss Confederation, EDA, accessed on December 2, 2019 .
  3. ↑ Foreign policy report
  4. ^ FDFA Admin: International Organizations in Switzerland
  5. ↑ Swiss Confederation: Chronological referendums
  6. ↑ Swiss Foreign Minister: Didier Burkhalter and his predecessors in profile On: SRF online from June 22, 2017