Swiss Сonfedеration experience on reception of migrants

The experience of Swiss Confederation in the field of integration of immigrants – one of the most economically developed countries of the world, occupying the leading position in Europe on the rate of foreign population in general demographic structure, – has been examined in the article. Evolution of the notions of “integration”, “social assimilation”, “acculturation” and others has been considered and different scientific approaches of Western researches to these notions have been adduced. Swiss immigration policy for the past decades has been traced and the modern integration policy of the country in the field of integration of foreign citizens into receiving society has been analyzed. A detailed analysis of the Swiss normative and legal framework in the field of migration, asylum and integration has been made also, and active development of migration laws over the last decade has been noted. Swiss migration politics, like in other developed Western countries-recipients of foreign labor, contains both: immigration policy (control over entry and stay of foreigners in the country) and policy of integration towards foreigners subject to integration processes.

The process of integration of a foreign citizen into a new socio-economic, political and cultural environment is a complex, multidimensional phenomenon. There is a developed and scientifically grounded system of reception, accommodation and integration of foreigners and asylum seekers in Switzerland, which is based on constitutional values, respect and mutual tolerance. At the core of this system is a general strategy of integration, which constitutes a country’s core policy of integration and covers various areas: law, politics, labour issues, housing, education, culture and religion. In order to implement the policy of integration, in Switzerland there are being developed and implemented federal and cantonal integration programs. Integration processes management is administered through the developed system of state authorities at federal, cantonal and other levels, with active participation of different public organizations, including migrant organizations. Federal Council publishes reports on development of integration policy in the country, Federal Migration Office issues annual reports, numerous scientific researches on the theme are being conducted. At present each canton has its own Integration program, designed in accordance with the Modal cantonal program, that allows to implement different integration models, depending on regional requirements and priorities.

1. Ukaz Prezidenta RF ot 31.10.2018 № 622 “О Kontseptsii gosudarstvennoi migratsionnoi politiki Rossiiskoi Federatsii na 2019–2025 gody” [Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 622, dated on October 31, 2018 “On the Concept of the state migration policy of the Russian Federation for 2019–2025”], SPS «KonsultantPlyus» [Legal reference system «Consultant Plus»]. Available at: http: //www.consultant.ru/document/cons (accessed 18.09.2019)

2. Federal Law on foreigners and integration, dated on December 16, 2005, Available at: https://www.admin.ch/opc/fr/classified-compilation/20020232/ (accessed 15.09.2019).

3. Federal Law, dated on September 29, 1952 on the acquisition and loss of Swiss citizenship (nationality act), Available at: https://www.admin.ch/opc/fr/classified-compilation/19520208/index.html (accessed 15.09.2019).

4. Asylum act, dated on June 26, 1998. Available at: https://www.admin.ch (accessed 15.09.2019).

5. Federal Law 1998 on the residence and settlement of foreigners. Available at: https://www.sem.admin.ch (accessed 17.09.2019).

6. Ordinance on the integration of foreigners, dated on September 13, 2000. Available at: https://www.admin.ch – 20001861 (accessed 17.09.2019).

7. Ordinance on the integration of foreigners, dated on October 24, 2007. Available at: https://www.admin.ch – 20070995 (accessed 17.09.2019).

8. Boucher M. Integration theories. Between universalism and differentialism: sociological and political debates in France, Paris, L’Harmattan, 2000, no. 105, Mai, 256 p.

9. Cattacin S., Kaya B. Development of measures for the integration of migrants at the local level in Switzerland, Neuchatel, Swiss forum for migration studies, 2001, 47 p.

10. Chiffelle M. Implementation of cantonal integration programmes (PIC): what is the degree of involvement of community and cantonal administrative facilities? University of Neuchatel, 2018, January, 84 p.

11. Dahinden, J. Transnational belonging, non-ethnic forms of identification and diverse mobilities: rethinking migrant integration? Messer Michi and al. (Eds.), Migrations: interdisciplinary perspectives, Wien, Springer, 2012, 121 p.

12. Duc-Quang N. Switzerland – classic country of immigration, 18.12.2017, p. 1. Available at: https://www.swissinfo.ch (accessed: 04.09.2019).

13. Engbersen G. Spheres of integration: Toward a differentiated and reflexive ethnic minority policy, Rosemarie Sackmann (Eds.), Identity and integration, 2003, pp. 63, 66.

14. Manatschal, A. Taking cantonal variations of integration policy seriously – or how to validate international concepts at the subnational comparative level, Swiss Political Science Review, 2011, 17 (3), pp. 336–357.

15. Problems of integration of foreign citizens in Switzerland, Bern, Federal Office on Migration, 2006, 14 p.

16. Report of the Federal Council on the evolution of the Confederation’s integration policy, dated on March 5, 2010, Bern, pp. 3401-3447 Available at: https://www.admin.ch/opc/ (accessed 04.09.2019).

17. Annual report on migration – 2012, Federal Office on Migration (FOM), 52 p. Available at: https://www.sem.admin.ch (accessed 15.08.2019).

18. Schnapper D. What is integration? Paris, Editions Gallimard, 2007, 238 p.