Bern and Vienna are running for cover against immigration from the Balkan route
Switzerland and Austria join forces to fight illegal Balkan immigration. The flows have started to increase again, and there is no shortage of criticism of Serbia’s position.
This content was published on September 28, 2022 – 9:19 pm
tvsvizzera.it/MaMi with Keystone-ATS
Federal Councilor Karin Keller-Sutter and Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner agreed today in a meeting in Zurich on a joint action plan in the fight against irregular migration, about which there was no shortage of criticism of Serbia.
In recent months, irregular migration has been particularly prevalent, especially on the Balkan route, the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) recalled in a statement. To stem it, Austria and Switzerland have agreed to take action with bilateral and international measures.
As regards the border police, the agreed measures include, inter alia, additional cross-border research and operations to combat trafficking and smuggling of human beings.
There are also joint patrols in cross-border rail traffic, which are the responsibility of the Swiss cantonal authorities and the Federal Office of Customs and Border Security (UDSC). Finally, it is intended to strengthen communication by employing liaison officers. Bern and Vienna – indicates the FDJP – will evaluate the implementation of the action plan and possibly propose further measures by the end of 2022.
At the international level, the action plan provides for the two countries, in agreement with Germany, Croatia and Slovenia, to intervene at the European Commission to change the Western visa policy: the aim is to prevent a policy of liberal visas become the engine of irregular migration on the Balkan route, explains the FOJP.
In this context, Keller-Sutter and Karner added responsibility to Serbia. In front of the media, the Federal Councilor argued that the Serbian visa policy has led to an increase in illegal migration: for example, Tunisians, Cubans and Indians can legally and easily reach Belgrade by plane, from where they are taken by smugglers – usually Serbs – via Hungary. up to Austria.
With significant consequences: “Asylum applications from Indians in Austria increased by 2000%,” he said, adding that more Indians and Tunisians were also detained at the Swiss borders. It is not clear why illegal migration through Serbia has grown so much Ukraine, but Keller-Sutter eloquently alluded to the fact that in the wake of the war today there are different interests.
According to the press release, Austria and Switzerland are also aiming for a fundamental reform of the European asylum and migration system, as well as a rapid amendment of the Schengen Borders Code, especially to prevent secondary migration. Finally, the action plan provides for a common commitment in the field of return procedures.