The Allseas company, based in Châtel-St-Denis, to which Greenpeace requests to give up mining extraction in deep waters, has not received financial aid or tax advantages from the canton of Friborg. The Council of State explained to be attentive to the evolution of the file but that it does not have concrete elements establishing a potential violation of international law.
“In the event of violation of international law, it first belongs to the Confederation, and in the alternative to the canton, to examine the appropriate measures or sanctions, in accordance with the law in force,” the Council of State said in response to two questions from several deputies on Monday.
“Besides, the Council of State would assess the consequences on the reputation of the canton on a case-by-case basis according to the nature of the facts, their media visibility and institutional reactions,” he added. The canton said there is no particular link between the Friborg and Allseas economic promotion.
The Council of State recalled that neither the International Authority for Marine Funds (AIFM) nor the American authorities have issued authorization for the mining extraction in deep waters, “making any judgment on this premature file”.
If an authorization is however issued outside the multilateral framework by a State, which is not a party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, this may cause compliance problems with the rules of international law. “However, it returns as a priority to the States directly concerned, in particular the United States, to ensure that any decision in this area is taken in compliance with international law,” said the canton.
Open letter to the Director General
On July 3, Greenpeace Switzerland presented to the Director General of the Allseas company an open letter asking to give up mining in deep waters and respect international law. The document was provided with 14,510 signatures, collected in less than three weeks.
The company is the main partner of the Canadian company The Metals Company. This wants to embark on the extraction of minerals in deep waters without the authorization of the International Marine Funds Authority (AIFM).
