Swiss to assist EU border security agency
Switzerland wants to work more closely with the European Union Frontex agency regarding forced deportations of asylum seekers.
A spokesman for the Federal Migration Office told Swiss public radio that Switzerland wanted to share its experience with Frontex to aid in the training of observers assigned to monitor forced repatriation flights.
Switzerland has been involved in more than 30 flights over the past five years organised by Frontex, the EU agency responsible for coordination of border security among member states.
However, the cooperation deal has been criticised by the Swiss branch of Amnesty International.
Amnesty spokeswoman Denise Graf told Swiss public radio that Switzerland was not a good example when it came to deportations, referring to an incident on July 7 when policemen clubbed and punched a Nigerian who resisted boarding an aircraft.
“It would be regrettable if the Swiss practice was applied abroad,” Graf said.
The Federal Migration Office said the modalities of Swiss participation in the Frontex training programme would be worked out over the next two months.
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