New Asylum Status for North African Nations
The Swiss National Council has recently approved a motion to designate four North African countries as safe countries of origin for asylum seekers. This decision comes in response to a proposal by the Swiss People's Party (SVP), although the council opted not to include Turkey in this classification. Specifically, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia are now recognized as safe origins, despite the federal government's objections. The council's vote on Tuesday clearly favored the SVP's motion, dismissing the inclusion of Turkey, which is bound by European human rights treaties as a member of the Council of Europe.
The SVP argues that these five countries provide a secure environment free from persecution. They noted that the European Union has already labeled Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia as safe origins. While Algeria may have certain regions that pose risks, the SVP contends that individuals from Algeria can be returned to more stable areas within the country without issues. SVP spokesperson Pascal Schmid criticized the federal government for its inaction, highlighting that the number of asylum applications from North Africa and Turkey has increased fivefold since 2010, alleging that many claimants from these regions engage in criminal activities in Switzerland.
Federal Council's Response and Proposed Changes
The Federal Council stands in opposition to this motion, with Justice Minister Beat Jans stating that none of the five countries currently meet the criteria to be classified as safe origins. He emphasized that a safe country must protect its entire population from unlawful persecution. Furthermore, he pointed out that the definition of 'Safe Country' in the EU does not equate to the same classification in Switzerland, where all asylum applications can be expedited, unlike in the EU where only those from designated safe countries can enjoy such treatment.
In the extraordinary session, the National Council also proposed stricter measures for foreigners. It was decided that foreign nationals with prior convictions should no longer be granted residency rights to deter criminals from entering Switzerland. Individuals applying for residency will be required to submit a criminal record extract from their country of origin. This proposal received strong support, passing with a vote of 121 to 71. The Council is expected to deliberate on a similar motion in the upcoming session.
SVP spokesperson Gregor Rutz emphasized the importance of thoroughly examining each application, stating that anyone seeking to rent a property or take up certain positions should also provide a criminal record extract. The overarching aim is to prevent the acceptance of criminals into Switzerland. However, the Federal Council has rejected this motion, indicating that authorities can already request criminal records from individuals from third countries, although this is only permissible under suspicion according to the free movement agreement with the EU.
In a significant move, the National Council has also passed a motion, this time from the FDP group, mandating that individuals with serious criminal records outside the Schengen Area must automatically leave Switzerland. The FDP aims to establish a uniform practice among cantons regarding deportations, thereby effectively implementing the deportation initiative. Moreover, in cases of severe or repeated offenses, asylum grounds will no longer be examined. The Federal Council has opposed this proposal, referencing the principle of non-refoulement and stating that applications from individuals with criminal backgrounds are already prioritized for review.
As reported by watson.ch.
