Switzerland & Germany agree to further cooperate to fight irregular migration

Germany and Switzerland have decided to expand their cooperation in the fight against irregular migration.

Through a statement issued on December 13, the Federal Department of Justice and Police of Switzerland said that Swiss Federal Counselor Karin Keller-Sutter and Germany’s Minister of InteriorNancy Faeser have agreed on a corresponding action plan to fight irregular migration, on the same day in Berlin, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

The same source states that both countries intend to fight smuggling across borders and carry out returns on a regular basis.

“In recent months, more and more migrants have come to Switzerland and Germany via the western Balkan route and the central Mediterranean route. Many of these people travel through other Schengen countries or have already applied for asylum elsewhere. The common border area between Germany and Switzerland is also affected,” the statement reads.

After the approval of the plan, Keller-Sutter said that it is important for each country to do the work on its end but that irregular migration cannot be effectively fought on its own, therefore, international coordination and agreement between neighbours are essential.

In this regard, Minister Faeser added that Germany wants open borders with Switzerland for the free movement of German citizens and for trade. In addition, she emphasised that the German-Swiss border region has always had close ties in both economic and cultural aspects.

The two neighbouring countries see the objective of preventing persons without a need for protection from the overload of the asylum systems so that they can both give priority and speed up the asylum procedures for citizens with a low degree of recognition and systematically return rejected asylum seekers.

Over ten years ago, in 2012, Switzerland introduced the so-called fast procedures for people from countries of origin with a low level of protection, which currently applies to asylum seekers from Maghreb countries but also to those who come from countries that are not safe from persecution.

Another thing on which the border protection and police authorities of both countries are working is the intensification of joint cross-border searches to fight human smuggling and, at the same time to prevent further migration. As a result, these patrols will be used more often in cross-border rail traffic.

Germany and Switzerland have jointly committed themselves to common and effective return procedures. However, both also envisage achieving improvements in cooperation with third countries. During the coming year, they will also evaluate the implementation of the action plan and propose further measures as needed.

SOURCE: Schengen Visa Info

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