Swiss participation in Atalanta: the rest of the episodes

(BRUSSELS2) The Council of States (the upper house of the Swiss parliament) approved - again on Tuesday - the sending of Swiss soldiers to take part in the European anti-piracy operation, Atalanta. This time by 29 votes against 9. For those who had missed an episode, the Council had already decided - at first reading - for this dispatch, with an even clearer majority (33 votes against 5). But the National Council (the lower house of the Swiss Parliament) was opposed by a majority (by 103 votes against 84, read here). The case now returns to the National Council. Foreign Minister Micheline Calmane-Rey called on the deputies to reason, believing that the image of Switzerland as a united and credible nation could be tarnished. " If Switzerland does not participate in Atalanta, it would leave the protection of the (Swiss) merchant fleet and UN food supplies to the EU. She added.