Asylum seekers resume transfers to Italy (cross-border guide)

Context

Switzerland will resume transfers of asylum seekers to Italy, after almost four years of blockade. Transfers will be managed gradually, as confirmed by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). The resumption of transfers is linked to the new European Pact on Migration and Asylum, which entered into force on 12 June.

The decision was taken after a long period of negotiations between Switzerland and the European Union. SEM confirmed that the transfers will resume shortly, but did not provide an exact date. 📊

The new European Pact on Migration and Asylum provides for the resumption of transfers of asylum seekers between EU Member States. Switzerland, not being a member of the EU, had to negotiate a specific agreement to join this pact. The agreement was signed on 26 June and enters into force on 12 June.

The resumption of transfers is an important new development for Switzerland, which has had to deal with the crisis of asylum seekers in recent years. According to SEM data, in 2020 about 43,000 asylum seekers were registered in Switzerland, while in 2021 the number fell to about 26,000. The decrease was attributed to the crisis of asylum seekers and their greater mobility to other countries.

The resumption of transfers will be managed gradually, to avoid creating reception and integration problems for asylum seekers. SEM announced that the

Operational details

The resumption of transfers of asylum seekers to Italy is linked to the new European Pact on Migration and Asylum, which provides financial support and other discounts for countries of arrival, such as Italy. Switzerland could now return only 652 people to Italy, as almost 40% of asylum seekers have obtained protection in Switzerland.

According to data from the Federal Office of Legal Affairs (UJU), between 2020 and 2022, 1,454 asylum seekers were repatriated to Italy, worth 24.5 million francs. However, due to the failure to ratify the European Pact on Migration and Asylum, Switzerland was forced to suspend the transfers.

With the ratification of the European Pact on Migration and Asylum, Switzerland could now return up to 652 people a year to Italy. This means that Switzerland could return to Italy about 30% of asylum seekers who have obtained protection in Switzerland. 📊

The European Pact on Migration and Asylum also provides financial support for countries of arrival, such as Italy. Switzerland could contribute 20 million francs per year to support the countries of arrival. This financial support could help cover the costs related to the transfers and reception of asylum seekers.

In addition, the European Pact on Migration and Asylum also provides for the creation of a fund to support countries of arrival.

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Key points

Switzerland resumes the returns of asylum seekers who arrived after June 12, the date on which the new immigration law came into force. The spokeswoman for the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Magdalena Baker, explained that the new procedures must first be tested on the basis of current cases.

"The new procedures must first be tested on the basis of current cases," said spokeswoman Magdalena Baker. “The FDFA works closely with the cantons and relevant authorities to ensure that the new procedures are effective and respect human rights.”

The first returns concern asylum seekers who arrived after 12 June. According to FDFA data, there are currently around 1,500 asylum seekers in Switzerland who arrived after this date. The cantons of Bern, Zurich and Geneva host the largest number of asylum seekers.

The new immigration law provides that asylum seekers are required to submit their asylum application within one month of their arrival in Switzerland. If the application is not submitted within this period, the asylum seeker may be repatriated.

The law also provides that asylum seekers are required to reside in the canton in which they have applied for asylum. In the event of repatriation, the asylum seeker may be taken back to the canton where he/she submitted the asylum application.

The FDFA has also established a

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Source: rsi.ch