On Sunday, the deputy leader of Germany’s CDU/CSU parliamentary group told the NZZ am Sonntag paper that reports of Swiss border guards allowing asylum seekers to pass through Switzerland to reach their preferred destinations – such as France or Germany – was a case of “national egoisms [which] are damaging the Schengen Area”.
Andrea Lindholz was specifically referring to the situation at Switzerland’s eastern border, where up to 1,000 migrants per week, mostly young Afghans, are currently arriving but not applying for asylum.
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‘Switzerland is violating the Dublin accords by letting migrants pass through’
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The Swiss government should work out a common migration policy with its neighbours, says expert Etienne Piguet.
Keller-Sutter rejected the idea that letting the migrants move onwards amounts to a flouting of the “Dublin” rules of asylum for the 26 Schengen states: “if these people don’t apply for asylum, and simply travel onwards, then there is no Dublin process,” Keller-Sutter told Swiss public television SRF. Police can carry out checks, but cannot detain the migrants, she said.
Keller-Sutter added on Monday that she had also since contacted the German interior minister, who was for her part “a bit surprised” about the criticism reported in the Swiss press; notably, a spokesperson for the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees had also told the NZZ am Sonntag that the Swiss practice was a violation of the rules.
Germany and Switzerland continue to cooperate well and to work together to tackle illegal migration, Keller-Sutter said.
Dublin difficulties
Dublin rules say the Schengen state responsible for processing an asylum application is generally the country of “the first point of irregular entry”. However, since 2015 and the large numbers of migrants arriving in Europe, policymakers in Brussels have been trying to reform the process to reduce the burden on border states like Greece and Italy and to redistribute the migrants more equitably across Europe.
In mid-October, the number of irregular crossings into the European Union reached its highest level since 2016, the European border security agency Frontex said.
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Swiss migration authorities struggling with ‘overlapping crises’
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The Swiss migration head says federal asylum centres are full and the situation is unprecedented since the Second World War.
Swiss foreign minister backs Berset at Council of Europe
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Cassis described Berset as the "ideal candidate" to help the Council realise its aim of ensuring security and peace in Europe.
Gay conversion therapy banned in Swiss canton of Valais
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On Thursday, the canton approved a new Health Act which includes a ban on therapies aimed at changing sexual orientation or gender identity.
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Some aspects of pro-Palestine sit-ins have gone too far, but the right to protest and debate must be upheld, the student association has said.
Swiss LGTBIQ helpline: attacks more than doubled in 2023
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Three organisations jointly operating a helpline have called for more awareness, action and funding to address discrimination.
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Switzerland's economy grew slightly at the start of 2024, with growth in the service sector contrasting with weak growth in industry.
Swiss employment rate rises in first quarter of 2024
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The number of women and foreign nationals in employment increased particularly strongly, the Federal Statistical Office said on Thursday.
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How welcoming is Switzerland for refugees?
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Besides geography, politics and the solidarity of the population play a decisive role in determining which countries people flee to.
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