The European Union’s (EU) New Pact on Migration and Asylum aims to curb irregular migration within Schengen, Justice Minister Beat Jans said in Ghent on Tuesday. The head of the justice ministry discussed implementation of the pact with his European counterparts on Monday and Tuesday in the Belgian city. From a Swiss perspective, the reform of EU migration and asylum policy is a step forward, Jans told Keystone-SDA news agency after the conference. He said that Switzerland would benefit greatly if the goals were achieved. Regarding implementation, the minister added that Switzerland would not have to completely upend its procedures, but that the aim was to harmonise various data and processes with the EU. The same information, such as fingerprints or facial recognition, would have to be collected and exchanged between Schengen states, which would also simplify processes for Switzerland. Application examinations at external borders The New Pact on Migration and Asylum was adopted by ...
