Federal Councilor Sommaruga calls for reform of the European asylum system

Berne / Innsbruck, 13.7.18 (kath.ch) Simonetta Sommaruga spoke at the informal meeting of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers in Innsbruck on 12 June for the division of responsibilities and the reform of the European asylum system. She advised her counterparts to look for solutions in centers outside of Europe.

Federal Councilor Sommaruga recalled at the meeting that the number of asylum applications had dropped considerably in recent months. She should take advantage of the opportunity to put in place a strong asylum system, she said, according to a press release from the Federal Department of Justice and Police. In his speech in Innsbruck, the head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) was surprised that the measures taken with regard to asylum seekers remain the same as in 2011, the 39 year of the Arabs. Spring.

Refugees in Greece | © Lefteris Partsalis, Caritas Switzerland

To date, many European countries have opted to strengthen the external borders of the Schengen area and for better cooperation with the countries of origin in order to repatriate the applicants rejected asylum. According to Sommaruga, the idea of ​​asylum centers outside the Schengen area discussed at the meeting is "vague". He left many political and legal questions open, according to the statements quoted in the communication.

The purpose of the meeting convened by Austria was to ensure the protection of Europe's external borders and to make the European asylum system more resistant to crises. The host had invited all EU justice and home affairs ministers and states associated with Schengen, according to the press release. Austria holds the Presidency of the European Union since the beginning of July

Protection of Minorities and Bilateral Cooperation

Ministers discussed reforms of the asylum system as well as measures against anti-Semitism, the protection of Jewish institutions and the fight against trafficking. The latter has a strategic priority for Switzerland, according to the communication

. In addition, Sommaruga discussed bilaterally with its Italian and German counterparts, Matteo Salvini and Horst Seehofer, the cooperation with the two neighboring countries of Switzerland. (fp)