EU Parliament decides on revision of migration policy
Published: Wednesday, Apr 10th 2024, 16:30
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On Wednesday, the European Union Parliament began a debate in Brussels on a reform in the area of asylum and migration. Due to its participation in Schengen and Dublin, some of the Parliament's decisions are important for Switzerland.
With the reform, asylum procedures are to be carried out at the external borders of the Schengen area. Certain migrants would be housed in reception camps for up to twelve weeks in order to examine their application. Those rejected could also be returned more quickly to "safe" third countries.
In order to relieve the burden on countries at the southern borders in particular, a so-called solidarity mechanism is also planned. This provides for migrants to be allocated to the member states. In return, countries that do not wish to do so could contribute financially or otherwise in the area of asylum and migration.
Consequences for Switzerland
Only those points that are considered a further development of the Schengen and Dublin acquis are legally binding for Switzerland, said Samuel Wyss, spokesman for the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), to the Keystone-SDA news agency on request. Among other things, Switzerland would have to adopt rules in the area of data comparison and the identification and verification of identity.
Switzerland would not have to adopt the solidarity mechanism. At best, it could participate in solidarity measures on a voluntary basis. And the rules on the harmonization of substantive asylum regulations and the procedures for examining applications for international protection are not binding, said Wyss.
MEPs are expected to vote on the various points of the package from 5 p.m. onwards. At a later date, the member states, represented in the Council of the EU, will have to approve the revision. If the Parliament approves all points, the Council's approval should be a mere formality.
Switzerland then has two years to transpose the new rules into national law.
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