EU plans are well received in Switzerland: left and right for asylum reform

For this, the refugees must be distributed more fairly across Europe. A state that does not take in refugees must pay. Switzerland also supports the reform. Justice Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider (59) called it a “historic step”. This strengthened the Dublin system, said the SP federal councilor. Switzerland will participate.

“Then I applaud that”

But there is no criticism from the other political spectrum either. SVP migration politician Martina Bircher (39) says: “If the new European asylum system actually only distributes real refugees across Europe according to the Geneva Refugee Convention and at the same time no asylum applications can be submitted in Switzerland, then I welcome that. .”

She does emphasize that people who have been admitted provisionally may not be handed out. Your life is not individually threatened. “You have to wait in the camps at the Schengen external borders until the crisis in your home country is over.” That deters people from seeking asylum for no reason.

In addition, we would know such accelerated procedures in Switzerland – “and in Aargau, the communities that do not accept or accept too few asylum seekers have to pay a replacement fee”. So the EU plans are nothing new. And Bircher agrees with Baume-Schneider: “If the new rules are strictly enforced, Switzerland can also show solidarity and take on its share of genuine refugees.” It’s a lot less than today – “probably a few hundred”.

centers on our borders

Even SVP group chairman Thomas Aeschi (44) does not just sweep the EU plans off the table. But he doubts. “First, the EU Parliament can also change this.” In addition, he does not see that Hungary, Poland, Italy or Greece are prepared to set up transit camps for asylum seekers on their territory along the external border of the EU. “Italy, for example, is already not complying with EU law.” The country is currently no longer taking back asylum seekers it should be accepting under Dublin rules.

“The SVP insists that Switzerland systematically controls its national borders and in a motion to be voted on next Wednesday, we demand our own transit camps along the Swiss border,” said the group leader.