A groundbreaking agreement between Switzerland and Morocco aims to streamline the process of deporting rejected asylum seekers, facilitating a more efficient return of unauthorized residents to their home countries. This significant accord was formalized on Friday in Rabat, the capital of Morocco, by representatives from both nations.
The newly established agreement introduces an expedited process for the identification and repatriation of individuals whose asylum applications have been denied, as reported by the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) on the same day. Vincenzo Mascioli, Switzerland's State Secretary for Migration, and Khalid Zerouali, Morocco's Director of Migration and Border Control, were the key figures who signed the agreement, marking a pivotal step in bilateral cooperation.
According to SEM spokesperson Daniel Bach, the previous identification process for rejected asylum seekers averaged over 150 days. However, with the new agreement, this timeline is expected to be drastically reduced to a maximum of just 30 days. Additionally, the issuance of alternative travel documents will be expedited significantly, further facilitating the return process.
The formal signing of the agreement is anticipated to take place at a later date and is pending approval from the Swiss Federal Council. In their latest communiqué, SEM indicated that Mascioli and Zerouali also agreed to enhance police cooperation, focusing on targeted initiatives related to training and the exchange of expertise.
This development follows discussions earlier in April between Swiss Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis and his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita in Bern, where migration was a central theme. At that time, both parties acknowledged the initiation of talks aimed at improving repatriation procedures and strengthening consular collaboration.
Political pressure is mounting on the Swiss government to adopt a firmer stance on deportations, with the Swiss People's Party (SVP) frequently bringing this issue to the forefront of parliamentary discussions.
As reported by bluewin.ch.
