A journey to the EU border: Baume-Schneider in the refugee camp on Lesvos

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Elisabeth Baume-Schneider (59) gently places her hand on the shoulder of the woman in front of her. ‘I have children too. That must have been terrible,” says the federal councilor. Wivine Kunda Vavedila (44) nods. “I hope we have a better future now.”

The lawyer from Congo fled to Greece. Two of her five children have died. At the Athens Solidarity Center, in the country’s capital, she talks about her escape. Baume-Schneider is also in the audience; Switzerland will finance the social center with 2.37 million francs over three years. “It takes a lot of courage to show yourself so vulnerable,” says the federal councilor. “It is important to know that behind every escape there is a fate.”

“It is important that money is used efficiently”

The Minister of Justice flew to Greece the evening before. “This is my first time in this country,” she says shortly before landing in the Federal Council plane. The Swiss ambassador is already waiting on the runway. Stefan Estermann (55) organized a dinner for her with representatives of international aid organizations at his home. Here too, Baume-Schneider comes into contact with the subject of escape. The ambassador’s wife cooks the meal together with Zhanna Sushko. The Ukrainian fled her home country after Putin’s attack and now works as a domestic helper at the Swiss embassy.

“If we expect the Greek authorities to control the borders with Europe, we must also be sure that this is done in accordance with human rights,” Elisabeth Baume-Schneider explains her trip. “It is important to ensure that our money is used efficiently.” Switzerland will support Greece with 40 million francs in the field of migration until 2026.

After dinner, the federal councilor climbs down the stairs to the “Federal Council Chamber”. A small room, sparsely and simply furnished. She spends the night here. “Federal councilor Ignazio Cassis also slept here last year,” says the ambassador.

Life jackets in the water

The next day, the federal councilor from Athens flies to Lesbos. In some places the Turkish border is only ten kilometers away. At dusk you can see the lights on the other side of the sea and every now and then an old life jacket floats on the water on the coast. Every day people try to get to the EU by boat. If they are not returned by the coast guard or drown, they end up in a refugee camp.

The federal councilor visits the Mavrovouni camp. It was built in just a few days after the Moria slum camp burned down three years ago. Where there used to be tents, there are now containers. More than 4,700 people live there. Switzerland supported the camp with medical equipment and the construction of a drinking water supply.

Chaos in Chiasso?

The SP councilor has been leading the federal Ministry of Justice and Police for about a year now, and has been criticized for just as long. Their asylum policy is uncoordinated and there is chaos. “This year we expect 30,000 asylum seekers. Yes, we are under pressure. But it is not chaos,” says Baume-Schneider. “Everyone has a roof over their head. Our system works.”

The situation in Ticino is tense. There are currently approximately 600 refugees staying in the two asylum centers Chiasso and Pasture. An average of two police operations take place here every day. “I understand if someone who lives near an asylum seeker center finds it difficult when their car window is repeatedly smashed,” she says. “But I can’t work with fear, I have to work with reality. And it’s just a reality that people flee and seek protection.”

Since last week, 24-hour procedures for refugees from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya have been tested in Zurich. “Anyone who does not need protection should leave Switzerland quickly,” says the federal councilor. Does she want to scare people away with this turbo acceleration? “If the procedure results in people with no prospect of asylum not submitting an asylum application at all, it would relieve the pressure on our asylum system.”

Is it also an answer to the criticism that the Minister of Asylum does nothing? It is often said that the Jura woman is not a strong figure in the Federal Council and has little influence. “I hear this criticism less in French-speaking Switzerland than in German-speaking Switzerland,” she says. “It comes from people who don’t know me. Anyone who knows me knows better.”

Christmas with the seasonal elements

On the island of Lesbos, Elisabeth Baume-Schneider visits a women’s shelter in the city of Mytilene. The Bashira Center was founded by Raquel Herzog (60) from Zurich. 60 refugee women and children visit the house every day. Here they can recover from the stress in the refugee camp, play with their children or simply use a lockable toilet.

Baume-Schneider first came into contact with migrants as a young girl on her parents’ farm in Les Bois JU. “I couldn’t understand why seasonal workers work for us but they are not allowed to bring their families,” she says. “My parents were very religious, we always celebrated Christmas together with the migrants.”

In the women’s shelter on Lesbos, Baume-Schneider sits with five women for an hour. One of them, Roqia, fled Afghanistan alone with her three children. In Switzerland, the federal councilor sparked criticism when the State Secretariat for Migration decided that temporarily admitted women and girls from Afghanistan should be granted asylum in Switzerland. “These women have the right to protection. That is our law,” says Baume-Schneider. Isn’t she afraid that women will bring their husbands to Switzerland when they join their families? “Family reunification is provided for in our asylum law.”

On Lesbos, the federal councilor said goodbye to the women and said: “Thank you for your courage to tell your stories.”

Source:Blick