At the beginning of last week, 65 Hungarian citizens coming from the city of Miskolc, among them around fifteen children, arrived at the reception and processing centre in Vallorbe in order to file an application for asylum. 30 persons have already retracted voluntarily their application for asylum, after having been duly informed about their situation by the Swiss authorities. 16 among them left Switzerland voluntarily in order to return to Hungary on their own account.
Their chance to receive asylum in Switzerland is extremely small. Since 2009, no citizen of an EU member state has been recognized as a refugee in Switzerland. The member states of the European Union are considered to be secure states by the Federal Council. Protection against persecution is in principle granted by their native authorities. Therefore, the asylum applications coming from citizens of these states are apparently unfounded and do not give the right to a residence permit. Though, because exceptions may occur, an individual examination is requested by law.
The Swiss Asylum Act provides for the protection of persons who in their native country are subject to damage or fear a threat to life or physical integrity. Each asylum application is examined individually. Any person who applies for asylum must credibly demonstrate their refugee status.
The citizens of EU member states have a right of free movement in Switzerland during a period of maximum three months. Though, they have to respect certain conditions. Particularly, they have to dispose of sufficient financial means. If this requirement is not respected, the person concerned cannot benefit from a residence permit and can be expelled without delay.
Procedures within 48 hours
The asylum applications of the Hungarian citizens will be examined in an accelerated procedure. The Federal Office for Migration carries out procedures which are similar to the accelerated procedures (within less than 48 hours). Those were introduced in 2012 for citizens of the Eastern Balkans, which were considered to be secure. All procedural principles are fully respected, also the possibility to appeal to the Federal Administrative Court, despite of the accelerated procedure. The usual quality criteria are applied. Switzerland continues to grant equitable procedures to asylum seekers. Persons coming from secure states do not benefit from any return assistance. Furthermore, the FOM does generally not refund travelling expenses to rejected asylum seekers.
Further information is available at www.dfjp.admin.ch.
Contact / Information:
Information and communication FOM, 058 465 78 44, medien@bfm.admin.ch
