Commission says asylum procedures “too slow”

A key federal commission says the time taken to process requests for asylum must be cut down to six months. The proposal was one of a package of measures put forward by the Federal Refugee Commission at a news conference in Berne.

A key federal commission says the time taken to process requests for asylum must be cut down to six months. The proposal was one of a package of measures put forward by the Federal Refugee Commission at a news conference in Berne.

The commission said that when the process drags on for too long it makes eventual repatriation more difficult to accept, because asylum seekers have already begun to integrate. To this end, it called for a study to assess what impact access to jobs and schools has for asylum-seekers.

It stressed that the swift return of people not authorised to remain is fundamental to the credibility of Switzerland’s refugee policy. But the process must also be fair and acceptable to the people concerned.

The commission said that while their requests are processed, they should receive practical advice about a possible return home. Switzerland should also set up a training programme in their countries of origin, it said.

It recommened that refugees from war zones should have the option of returning home on a trial basis. And it warned that when repatriating a significant number of asylum-seekers from the same country, the authorities should always consider the impact they will have on political stability.

The commission called for Switzerland’s foreign policy to be better adapted to handling asylum issues.

Above all, the commission argued that refugee policy should be consistent and humane. It must not overlook the security, dignity or the family unity of those concerned.

From staff and wire reports