Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider on a working visit to Greece
Bern, 31.10.2023 - Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider will travel to Greece on 1 and 2 November for a working visit. The trip will focus on the challenges associated with migration. Switzerland is financially supporting Greece, a country that lies on Schengen’s external border, in addressing these challenges. The programme will include bilateral talks with the Greek minister of migration and asylum, Dimitris Kairidis, and a visit to various facilities in Athens and Lesbos.
In Athens, Federal Councillor Baume-Schneider and her Greek counterpart will open a centre for asylum seekers and refugees funded by Switzerland. In Lesbos, Ms Baume-Schneider, head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP), will visit the Mavrovouni reception centre. Afterwards, she will pay a visit to a shelter for unaccompanied minor asylum seekers and a programme for women refugees. Both projects receive financial support from Switzerland.
Switzerland has been supporting Greece for several years in tackling the challenges associated with migration. Along with Italy and Cyprus, Greece has been receiving funding for a year now from the migration framework credit of the second Swiss contribution, which is available for country programmes. A total of CHF 40 million will be spent until 2026 on improving migration management, asylum procedures and infrastructure for vulnerable migrants in Greece. Other priorities include integration and return assistance. The aim is, among other things, to improve the situation of refugees on the ground and to curb secondary migration throughout the Schengen area, including to Switzerland.
Address for enquiries
FDJP Communication Service
info@gs-ejpd.admin.ch
T +41 58 462 18 18
Publisher
Federal Department of Justice and Police
http://www.ejpd.admin.ch
State Secretariat for Migration
https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home.html
Last modification 06.06.2024