Federal Council plans to adopt the EU Return Regulation

The Federal Council approved the planned adoption of the EU Return Regulation, setting out accelerated return procedures for third-country nationals staying irregularly in the Schengen area. As a Schengen-associated country, Switzerland is required to incorporate relevant Schengen developments into its legal framework.

The regulation introduces new measures, including the mutual recognition of return decisions between Schengen states, the possibility of transferring returnees to third countries under certain conditions, the establishment of return hubs outside the Schengen area, expanded use of SIS alerts for return decisions, longer detention periods pending return, and stricter obligations to cooperate during return procedures. It also requires states to provide return counselling and access to assisted voluntary return programmes. 

Legislative amendments to the Foreign Nationals and Integration Act and the Asylum Act will be subject to public consultation from January 2027 before parliamentary approval.