A/HRC/4/19/Add.2 page 11 A. Immigration and integration policy 33. Swiss migration policy is based in theory on the needs of the job market. In 1991, Switzerland opted for a “three-circle” immigration policy: the first circle was composed of the countries of the European Union before enlargement, and the countries of the European Free Trade Association; the second, of countries with similar economies and ideologies, such as the United States of America, Canada and New Zealand; the last circle being the rest of the world. The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination considered “the conception and effect of this policy to be stigmatizing and discriminatory, and therefore contrary to the principles and provisions of the Convention” (CERD/C/304/Add.44, para. 6). This “three-circle model” was officially abandoned in October 1998 and replaced by a “binary admission system” established by the Federal Council (see CERD/C/351/Add.2, para. 270). This system is based on Switzerland’s conclusion with the European Union and the European Free Trade Association, within the framework of close bilateral relations, of an agreement on the free movement of persons. It should be noted, however, that the Federal Act on the Temporary and Permanent Residence of Foreigners, which concerned all foreigners, has been replaced by the new Federal Act on Foreign Nationals, which deals with foreigners from countries that are not members of the European Union. This binary admission system, which provides for two different legal regimes depending on the person’s origin, is considered by some, including Swiss anti-racist circles, to be highly discriminatory and a perpetuation of the spirit of the “three-circle model” in Swiss legislation.16 34. With regard to integration, every year Switzerland allocates 14 million Swiss francs for the integration of the migrant population in accordance with article 25 (a) of the Federal Act on the Temporary and Permanent Residence of Foreigners and the Ordinance on the Integration of Foreigners. Article 3 and article 14 (a) of the Ordinance indicate that integration efforts and measures are the common task of the cantons and the Confederation. 35. Integration is understood as a cross-cutting task involving all official institutions, each participating in its area of competence. The Federal Office for Migration coordinates the integration measures adopted by the federal offices, guarantees exchanges of views and experience with the cantons and the cities, and finances integration measures for refugees and foreigners. At the cantonal level, delegates for integration are also active in efforts to combat discrimination, which is considered as a central objective in the context of promoting integration. 36. The naturalization of foreigners in Switzerland involves three procedures that are carried out at the federal, cantonal and communal levels. The procedures are governed by cantonal law; however, there may be variations depending on the commune. Naturalization procedures have 16 See, for example, Position de la Commission fédérale contre le racisme sur le système binaire d’admission de la politique des étrangers en Suisse, 2 May 2003, http://www.edi.admin.ch/ekr/ themen/00104/00660/030502_prise-de-position_systeme_binaire_admission_ fr.pdf?PHPSESSID=ebcf4c4ff4#search=%22syst%C3%A8me%20binaire%20d%E2%80%99 admission%22.