Fact Check: Swiss Federal Council Seeks Opinions on New Refugee Policies from Cantons and UNHCR
What We Know
Recently, the Swiss Federal Council proposed changes to the special S status for Ukrainian refugees, which would require consultation with both the cantons and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). This proposal aims to restrict the S status to those fleeing from regions in Ukraine where life and limb are at risk, while others would need to apply for asylum. The Federal Council has explicitly stated its intention to gather opinions from the cantons and the UNHCR as part of this consultation process (Swiss government proposes restrictions on Ukrainian refugees).
Analysis
The claim that the Swiss Federal Council is seeking opinions on new refugee policies from cantons and the UNHCR is substantiated by the official announcement from the Federal Council itself. The proposal was sent out for consultation, indicating a formal process to gather feedback from relevant stakeholders, including the cantons and the UNHCR (Swiss government proposes restrictions on Ukrainian refugees).
The reliability of the source is high, as it comes from Swissinfo, a reputable news outlet that provides coverage of Swiss affairs. The information is corroborated by the content of the proposal, which outlines the Federal Council's plans to differentiate between applicants based on their regions of origin in Ukraine (Swiss government proposes restrictions on Ukrainian refugees).
Moreover, the UNHCR's involvement in the consultation process aligns with its role in advising governments on refugee matters, further validating the claim (UNHCR Recommendations). The UNHCR's recommendations often emphasize the importance of including refugees and relevant stakeholders in policy discussions, which supports the Federal Council's approach to seek opinions.
Conclusion
Verdict: True. The Swiss Federal Council is indeed seeking opinions on new refugee policies from the cantons and the UNHCR, as indicated by their recent proposal and consultation process. The evidence from reliable sources confirms the accuracy of this claim.
