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- According to Karin Keller-Sutter, Switzerland welcomes the fact that the EU asylum and migration package includes a “comprehensive approach”.
- The protection of external borders is particularly important, said the Federal Councilor.
- She said this after a video meeting of the EU interior ministers.
The package was presented by the EU Commission at the end of September. The objective of the current video meeting was an initial exchange of ideas on the main content of the proposal.
Protecting the external borders, conducting “fast and fair procedures” and associated expedited joint returns are very important, Keller-Sutter told the Keystone-SDA news agency. “That means protection for those who need it, but return for those who” did not meet the requirements. That is what Switzerland thinks too.
Less secondary migration expected
Furthermore, Keller-Sutter hopes this will curb secondary migration, which is also affecting Switzerland. Secondary migration occurs when migrants travel from one EU / Schengen state to another.
The head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) described the three-stage redistribution mechanism proposed by the Brussels authority, which, in the event of a crisis, gives states the option of accepting asylum seekers or participating in returns , as a pragmatic proposal and referred to the years of the blockade. .
“Surprisingly constructive” discussion
Since the 2015 refugee crisis, EU states have strongly disagreed on a readjustment of EU migration policy. While Eastern European countries like Hungary and Poland have so far strictly refused to accept refugees from other EU countries, countries that have been badly affected, like Italy or Greece, insist on a mandatory mechanism.
The current discussion was “surprisingly constructive,” Keller-Sutter said. “Even those states that are critical of a redistribution mechanism have voiced constructive criticism.”
In light of this, he was “cautiously optimistic” that something could change in the EU’s asylum and migration policy. You yourself have implied that Switzerland is ready to play a constructive role.
Germany steps on the accelerator
Germany, which currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU, is stepping on the gas by realigning EU migration policy: German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer made it clear that he wanted to reach a political agreement on the key points of the proposal before the end of the year.
Therefore, there should be a physical meeting in Brussels in early November if the corona pandemic allows it. As a member of Schengen / Dublin, Switzerland also participates in the meetings of the EU interior ministers.
We are looking at what Switzerland should and should not implement.
When asked about the difficult situation, Seehofer said he hoped “that member states are aware that the success of this operation is crucial for Europe’s ability to act continuously.
Once the migration pact is finalized, Switzerland will have to take care of part of it, but not all. “We are working with the Federal Office of Justice to analyze what Switzerland should and should not implement,” Keller-Sutter said.
