EU asylum reform: How would Switzerland benefit from this asylum reform, Madam Federal Councilor? – News

The EU Commission wants things to move forward in asylum reform negotiations that have been stalled for years. She has made new proposals for faster procedures and a rigorous deportation of rejected asylum seekers. Swiss Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter explains why she welcomes the proposals.

Karin Keller-Sutter

Federal Councilor

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Keller-Sutter has been a member of the Federal Council since January 1, 2019. Since then she has been head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP). From 2000 to 2012, the FDP politician was a member of the government of the Canton of St. Gallen. At that time he was in charge of the Department of Security and Justice. From 2011 until her election to the Federal Council, Keller-Sutter was Councilor of States.

SRF News: Madam Federal Councilor, the EU Commission wants faster decisions at the borders, faster procedures in principle. Will this relieve Switzerland?

Federal Councilor Karin Keller-Sutter: Overall, I welcome this reform. This is also the impulse that Switzerland has always asked for: that the external borders are better protected, that the procedures can also be carried out at the external borders, that there is a common return policy, but also support for the states on the borders outside. How this will affect Switzerland will be seen when the package can be implemented. You cannot say that in detail today.

Secondary migration should be made difficult. That could mean: Will Italy find it less easy to send asylum seekers across the country, so Switzerland will have to take care of it?

Italy is a very good and important partner for Switzerland. The Dublin system is already working very well with Italy today. Most of the transfers we do go to Italy. So that already works today. But in reality the new system is supposed to prevent secondary migration, that is, someone who stays in one European country for a few years, then travels to another and has to go back to court there. We want to stop this long process.

What will remain the same with the new proposal: that countries like Hungary or Poland may not accept refugees.

The fact is that a common solution has not yet been found because the distribution between the countries has not found a majority. But I see the commissions approach as a pragmatic solution because they say; everyone participates, there is a solidarity of responsibility, and the question is how to exercise that responsibility. With such a system it will be possible to provide more protection at external borders or provide support with assistance for return. It is truly a pragmatic approach that gives everyone the opportunity to participate.

This is all just a proposal that is now being discussed. To what extent can Switzerland participate?

Switzerland is an associated state, but I was in Berlin in July and was able to speak with the Minister of the Interior, Seehofer, as a representative of the Presidency of the German Council. He assured me that Switzerland could participate in the discussions. The next meeting of justice and interior ministers will take place on October 8, and that will surely be a problem there and Switzerland will get involved, as it was in the past.

The interview was conducted by Urs Leuthard.