Switzerland promises financial aid to help Italy house asylum seekers

The Alpine nation has pledged to make up to CHF20 million available to help Italy house asylum seekers. Italy’s asylum policy was the main topic of discussions between Swiss Justice Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider and Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi during a working visit in Rome on Wednesday. More than 45,000 people have arrived on Italian shores since the start of the year, over three times the number at the same time in 2022. Baume-Schneider announced that Switzerland is making up to CHF20 million (almost $22 million) available from the migration framework credit of Switzerland's second contribution to certain EU Member to help Italy provide accommodation and care for asylum seekers, particularly unaccompanied minors. The Swiss and Italian ministers agreed to sign the bilateral cooperation agreement required to implement this contribution. Along with Cyprus and Greece, Italy is the third country with which Switzerland has so far entered into such cooperation...