2023-04-19 08:40:54
Federal Council
Bern, 04.19.2023 – In 2022, Switzerland’s foreign migration policy was marked by the effects of the war in Ukraine, which led to the largest exodus from Europe since the Second World War. Moreover, rising food and energy prices, the economic and social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, persistent armed conflicts and human rights violations have amplified the exodus movements and migration. In 2022, Switzerland pursued an active foreign migration policy and entered into two new migration partnerships, one with Georgia and the other with North Macedonia. This is shown in the annual report on Switzerland’s foreign migration policy, which was approved by the Federal Council on April 19, 2023.
More than seven million people have fled since Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine in February 2022. To date, Switzerland alone has offered provisional protection to more than 75,000 people. As the war continues, some 18 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. Switzerland joins the European Union (EU), other donor countries and the United Nations in supporting those affected in Ukraine and neighboring countries.
As of March 11, 2022, the Federal Council decided to increase humanitarian aid for Ukraine and its region to 80 million francs. On November 2, 2022, he put an additional 100 million francs on the table under the winter relief action plan for Ukraine and Moldova. Switzerland’s international cooperation has been present in both countries for many years and has reoriented, and sometimes reinforced, its current programs and projects according to new needs. Finally, the funds from Switzerland’s second contribution are helping Ukraine’s neighboring countries to receive refugees, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Fund for childhood (UNICEF).
Priority regions of Switzerland’s foreign migration policy
During the year under review, the Eastern Mediterranean and Balkan routes regained importance in exodus and migration movements to Europe. The lifting of pandemic-related measures and the visa regime of Western Balkan states are two of the reasons behind this phenomenon. In 2022, Switzerland has concluded action plans which provide for joint political initiatives and border policing measures with Austria and Germany. Switzerland has also intervened, in association with other states, with the European Commission and has succeeded in having the visa policy of certain Western Balkan states changed. As part of Switzerland’s second contribution, the Federal Council approved the agreements for the implementation of the migration framework credit concluded with Greece and Cyprus. As regards the cohesion framework credit, work has also progressed and eight agreements have been approved.
The consequences of the war in Ukraine go well beyond the borders of Europe. In many areas of origin, rising food and energy prices have further increased poverty and political instability. Switzerland provided humanitarian aid and continued its activities within the framework of international cooperation to sustainably improve living conditions there and offer alternatives to irregular migration.
In 2022, Switzerland strengthened its cooperation with many countries of origin and transit, in particular by concluding two new migration partnerships, one with Georgia and the other with North Macedonia. Cooperation in the field of returns also saw a positive development in 2022, for example with Algeria and Morocco. Finally, Switzerland has taken in recognized refugees in a vulnerable situation as part of its resettlement programme. These refugees were mostly from Syria and Afghanistan and were located in Lebanon, Turkey and Egypt.
Swiss multilateral migration policy
In addition to the many bilateral dialogues it conducts with other states in the areas of migration and exile, Switzerland took part in multilateral discussions during the year under review. She has been active in the following areas: labor migration, internal displacement, migration and development, anti-trafficking, missing migrants, and financial and staffing support to IOM and the United Nations Agency. United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
Address for sending questions
Information et communication SEM : [email protected]
Communication DFAE : [email protected]
Auteur
Federal Council
https://www.admin.ch/gov/fr/accueil.html
State Secretariat for Migration
https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/fr/home.html
Federal Department of Economics, Education and Research
http://www.wbf.admin.ch
Federal Department of Justice and Police
http://www.ejpd.admin.ch
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