Dublin

As far as the Dublin system is concerned, since 12th December 2008 Switzerland has the possibility, within the framework of the Dublin procedure, to hand over asylum applicants to other Dublin States when the latter are competent for the examination of their asylum applications. In turn, Switzerland has to take over asylum applicants from other Dublin States when it is competent for them. Within the framework of the Dublin procedure the applicants have to register their fingerprints in the central fingerprint database Eurodac.

Besides far-reaching technical adjustments, in view of the entry into force of the Schengen and Dublin Association Agreements it was also necessary to carry out law adjustments, especially concerning the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and the relative ordinances.

By adhering to the Schengen and Dublin Association Agreements, Switzerland undertook to implement the further developments of the Schengen and Dublin aquis. Together with the Federal Office of Police (fedpol) the FOM is responsible for the takeover and the implementation of approximately 95% of all further developments. Up to the end of October 2009 Switzerland was notified more than 90 further developments. Most of them are either acknowledged¹⁾ or approved²⁾ directly by the Federal Council. However, some further developments have to be approved by the Parliament³⁾, which concerns the FOM, for example the takeover of the VIS Ordinance (Visa Information System), the introduction of biometrical features in new aliens permits or the take over of the Return Directive. Moreover, the FOM is working at the implementation of further developments in view of the participation in the External Border Fund.