Plevris and Switzerland's Mascioli sign MoC for second phase of Swiss migration credit
Migration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris and Switzerland's State Secretary for Migration Vincenzo Mascioli on Monday signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on the second phase of Swiss financial support for actions on migration in 2025-2029, amounting to 28.6 million Swiss francs (roughly 29 million euros), which focuses on supporting the return of migrants and protecting vulnerable third-country nationals.
"Today, we signed the new programme with the Swiss state, in order for Switzerland to support us in a series of actions for migration. The flagship actions primarily concern support for vulnerable groups, women and children but in the new programme we also have a very important action relating to returns. From now on, Switzerland will also finance a series of voluntary returns, as we have made it clear that the priority of our migration policy is to guard the borders and return illegal migrants. The entire programme will amount to 30 million, which will be 85% financed by the Swiss state and which certainly proves that Switzerland supports us as a first country in programmes linked to both integration and, primarily, to returns," Plevris commented.
The new deal provides for significant funding of programmes by up to 100% for returns, protection of vulnerable individuals and unaccompanied minors and for improving reception facilities. The framework also finances projects such as providing legal aid (2.5 million Swiss francs), enhancing the asylum process for vulnerable groups (4.7 million francs), financing the National Emergency Response Mechanism (8.65 million Swiss francs), upgrading safe areas in island reception facilities (3.7 million francs), creating new safe areas for 500 unaccompanied minors (4.5 million Swiss francs), a women's hostel (400,000 Swiss francs) and guidance hubs to connect asylum seekers with the labour market (4 million Swiss francs).
The deal follows that the first programme of 2022-2026, amounting to 40 million Swiss francs, of which 80% was contracted and 22 million Swiss francs have returned to the state budget, confirming the effective and transparent use of the Swiss contribution by the Greek migration and asylum ministry.
