As part of the ‘borderless’ Schengen area, only sporadic and random checks are performed at Swiss borders. But this lax approach is set to change.
In identical motions, both chambers of the Parliament – the National Council and the Council of States – have called on the Federal Council to intensify controls at Swiss borders, in order to find, and consistently expel, persons without residence permits, and also to curb cross-border crime.
READ ALSO: Calls in Switzerland to boost border controls with France after spike in crime
In response, the Federal Office for Customs and Border Protection (BAZG) is deploying 300 additional employees at Switzerland’s borders.
“This will ensure a minimally increased presence and surveillance at migration-relevant locations, the government said.
It added that the initial focus of this new measure “will be on the southern border” – that is, at checkpoints along the border with Italy, through which most migrants attempt to enter Switzerland.
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Will these more systematic checks slow down tourist traffic as well as the flow of cross-border workers into Switzerland?
According to federal authorities, the increased controls, particularly at the southern border, will inevitably have negative consequences for border traffic as a whole.
However, despite intensified checks, “cross-border passenger and trade traffic, which is so important for Switzerland, should be maintained as far as possible,” they said.
READ ALSO: Switzerland has more cross-border workers than ever before, new figures reveal