Swiss migration chief calls for reform of European asylum policy
Switzerland’s State Secretary for Migration Mario Gattiker has criticised the current European asylum policy of redistributing migrants rescued at sea.
This content was published on
2 minutes
SDA-Keystone/ac
“We do not consider it reasonable to allocate persons to countries… even if they have no valid grounds for asylum.” And this situation “applies to many people who disembark,” said Gattiker in an interview published in the Swiss papers on Saturday. According to him, what is needed above all are rapid asylum processing procedures and a coherent repatriation policy in the first country of arrival.
The 62-year-old official said that Europe has not made much progress since the refugee crisis on the issue of redistribution of asylum seekers among countries. He was optimistic that the new European Commission, which will assume office in November under its German President Ursula von der Leyen, will “bring a breath of fresh air and new approaches”.
A reform of the Dublin Agreement on asylumExternal link, of which Switzerland is a member, would be more “effective” than “short-term solutions”, he added. “Less bureaucratic and faster procedures are needed, as well as a mechanism to ease the burden on states on the external border [of the European Union] in crisis situations”.
Uniform guidelines
Gattiker also called on the EU to adopt a uniform asylum practice. “It is not possible for people from Afghanistan to be granted the right to stay in one country in 90% of cases and in another, in 40% of cases,” he said. The top official warned that these differences lead to intra-European migration.
Gattiker also dismissed criticism of Switzerland’s lack of generosity towards refugees. “We have shown that we were very supportive during the refugee crisis, especially by accepting 1,500 migrants from Greece and Italy,” he said.
On Monday, representatives from France, Italy, Germany, Finland (which holds the rotating EU Presidency) and the European Commission will meet in Vittoriosa, Malta to find consensus on a provisional quotas for the distribution of asylum seekers. The proposal is then to be submitted to the heads of state and other government officials in October.
More
More
New asylum rules come into force
This content was published on
Most asylum proceedings are now to be completed within 140 days in federal asylum seekers’ centres. This compares with an average of 280 days in 2015. The reform was approved by two-thirds of Swiss voters in spring 2016. + Read more about the 2016 vote on accelerated asylum procedures As of March 1, asylum…
What can be done to protect biodiversity in your country?
Swiss voters are set to decide on a people’s initiative calling for better protection of ecosystems in the country. Have your say on the September 22 vote.
Bodycams: essential for good law enforcement, or a privacy risk?
Did you ever come across bodycams in your place of residence and if so, how do you think the use of bodycams alter the relationship between the public and (transport) police?
Top Swiss court rules against prostitution exclusion zone
This content was published on
The Federal Court ruled that a Swiss town went too far in banning prostitution within a 100-metre radius of certain sensitive locations.
First UN fact-finding report on Sudan released in Geneva
This content was published on
Numerous acts amounting to crimes against humanity and war crimes have been committed in Sudan, according to UN investigators.
Zurich cannabis study receives positive assessment
This content was published on
Health officials in the city of Zurich have given a positive assessment of a controlled study into the recreational use of cannabis, one year after it was launched.
This content was published on
Electricity prices will fall by an average of 10% for Swiss households in 2025, the Federal Electricity Commission ElCom reported on Thursday.
‘Inclusion initiative’ submitted to Swiss Federal Chancellery
This content was published on
Civil society groups handed in 108,000 signatures for their "inclusion initiative" to the Federal Chancellery in Bern on Thursday.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Drop in asylum requests prompts review of facilities
This content was published on
The justice ministry has ordered a review of the number of Swiss asylum centres amid a drop in the number of requests for asylum.
Dangerous asylum seekers continue to remain in Switzerland
This content was published on
34 out of 38 persons whose asylum applications were recommended for rejection by the Swiss Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) remain in the country.
Most asylum-seekers unaccounted for after leaving Swiss centre
This content was published on
The majority of asylum-seekers who left a federal departure centre near Zurich have vanished without a trace, the Swiss government concluded.
Eritreans stuck in Switzerland lose faith in a better future
This content was published on
Thousands of failed asylum seekers cannot be sent back and refuse to return home voluntarily. Young Eritreans share their stories.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.