SRF in­fo: Are­na

After months of discussion, the British Parliament passed a draft law on the controversial asylum pact with Rwanda this week. Migrants who have entered the country irregularly are to be brought to Rwanda to apply for asylum there. Germany also wants to tighten the screws on asylum policy. After a meeting of the interior ministers of the German-speaking countries in Basel, Nancy Faeser announced that border controls would be expanded in view of the upcoming European Football Championship. This is fueling similar discussions in Switzerland. Are these sensible new approaches to asylum policy? Or are other measures needed?

The focus of Swiss asylum policy is currently on the Eritrean diaspora, among other things. One reason: Eritreans recently made headlines in Switzerland with violent clashes. Supporters and opponents of the long-time Eritrean ruler clashed. In addition, the National Council's State Policy Committee is this week discussing, among other things, a proposal on rejected asylum seekers from Eritrea who cannot be returned to their homeland: they should have to leave Switzerland for a third country. Does Switzerland have to find a new way of dealing with asylum seekers from Eritrea?

When the war in Ukraine broke out over two years ago, the federal government activated protection status S for refugees from Ukraine. Today, almost 65,000 people with this status live in Switzerland. Only around 24 percent of people of working age are employed. Is it time to grant Ukrainians a residence permit under certain conditions in order to promote employment? Or, especially since the protection rate for applications received has fallen since the end of 2023, will normal asylum procedures be applied to people from Ukraine in the future?

On April 26, 2024, Nathalie Christen will be welcoming the following people to the “Arena” to discuss these questions:
– Pascal Schmid, National Councilor SVP/TG;
– Nina Schläfli, National Councilor SP/TG;
– Petra Gössi, Council of States member FDP/SZ;
– Balthasar Glättli, National Councilor Greens/ZH; and

– Claudio Martelli, Deputy Director of the State Secretariat for Migration SEM.