Keystone
Switzerland, Germany and Italy undertake to help each other in the event of a gas supply emergency.
The Federal Council today launched the consultation on the solidarity agreement, which contains two commitment credits for a total of 1.3 billion francs. Ratification requires the green light of Parliament.
Even if there are currently no shortages of gas, the Executive prefers to be foresighted and ensure that, in the event of a shortage, supplies are ensured in Switzerland to households, hospitals or emergency services, i.e. what are called “protected customers”, specifies a government note today.
Last March, Energy Minister Albert Rösti therefore signed a tripartite agreement with Berlin and Rome, after three years of discussions. The agreement allows Switzerland to ask for solidarity from Germany and Italy, once all possible national measures have been adopted, and vice versa.
The three States also guarantee not to limit the transport capacities existing in their networks. For the Confederation, implementation is the responsibility of the Federal Office for National Economic Supply (FONES).
Two credits for 1.3 billion, that’s what for
If solidarity from a state is requested, the industry of the country concerned can initially offer gas supplies on a voluntary basis. If this is not sufficient to supply “protected customers”, the authorities can order so-called “sovereign measures”.
In practice, the Government would order a reduction in the consumption of unprotected customers in exchange for compensation.
In order to effectively have access to solidarity benefits in emergency situations, two commitment credits have been set up: the first, amounting to 300 million francs, is used to finance a state guarantee.
The Confederation could use it to guarantee the purchase of gas as part of voluntary solidarity measures.
The second credit, equal to 1 billion francs, is intended to cover the compensation that the Confederation will have to pay in the event of sovereign measures in favor of Switzerland by the German and Italian authorities, the note further specifies.
The consultation will last until 17 June. The agreement and commitment credits should be presented to Parliament by the autumn session. For the security of gas supply it is important that it can come into force as quickly as possible, the note concludes.
The agreement also requires the green light from the European Commission.
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