In the first three months that the Swiss authorities applied the Dublin accord, Switzerland requested the transfer of 997 asylum seekers to other signatory states.

In the same period – December to March – Switzerland received just 52 requests from other Dublin signatory states.

Under the terms of the accord, the first state that processes an asylum application is the only country where an application can be made. After a negative decision an asylum seeker has no right to apply elsewhere.

More than half the 997 Swiss transfer requests have been accepted so far, with only 78 refused. The remainder of the cases are pending.

For its part, Switzerland agreed to take in 39 people to date. The Federal Migration Office said the first experiences made with the accord were positive for Switzerland and that collaboration with the other states was working well.

The human rights organisation Amnesty International and the Swiss Refugee Council have urged the Migration Office not to abandon responsibility for the protection of refugees by transferring them abroad.

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