Federal Council opens consultation on ordinance on crisis organization
The Federal Council has opened the consultation on the new Ordinance on the Crisis Organization of the Federal Administration (KOBV). The aim of this ordinance is to create the necessary conditions for the rapid and systematic deployment of interdepartmental crisis teams and thus to prepare the Federal Administration more efficiently and effectively for crisis situations.
At a time of increasing global uncertainty, the Federal Council made a policy decision on 29 March 2023 to optimize its crisis management. The focus is on managing emerging crises for as long as possible within the existing structures of the Federal Administration, but with accelerated procedures to increase efficiency. In addition, the early detection of crises is to be strengthened in order to be able to react to changes in the situation in a timely manner.
The new ordinance on the crisis organization of the Federal Administration was drawn up on the basis of the Federal Council's decision on the direction to be taken. At the heart of the consultation draft is the realigned crisis management of the Federal Administration with three key elements:
- The political-strategic crisis unit is responsible for preparing political and strategic decisions. As a rule, it is made up of the Secretaries-General of the departments, the two Vice Chancellors, the Federal Finance Administration, the Federal Office of Justice and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs.
- The operational crisis unit coordinates measures to provide the political-strategic crisis unit with decision-relevant information and implement actions. It is made up of representatives of the crisis units in action as well as other affected administrative units of the departments. Representatives of the Federal Office of Justice should also be involved at this level.
- The permanent core staff plays a central role in crisis preparation and management. It consists of staff from the Federal Chancellery and the Federal Office for Civil Protection and can be supplemented by experts from various departments if necessary. In a normal situation, the members work in their normal line functions and are available to provide support in the event of a crisis.
Holistic approach to crisis management
Another key component of the new strategy is the systematic involvement of the cantons, the scientific community and, where appropriate, other relevant stakeholders in the crisis teams. This measure promotes a holistic approach to crisis management and ensures that all necessary interest groups are adequately represented.
The ordinance does not apply to the organization of crisis management for specific events that fall within the remit of existing crisis units, such as the Special Unit for Hostage Taking and Extortion or the Special Unit for Asylum. Structures to ensure the operational continuity of the Federal Administration as well as the Security Committee and the Security Core Group are also excluded from this.
The consultation will last until September 4, 2024.
Source: admin.ch
