Switzerland is set to strengthen the internal border controls with its neighbouring Schengen countries following irregular migration and internal border security concerns.
Agreeing with a call made by the State Policy Commission of the Council of States, the Swiss Federal Council said that the country’s borders should be monitored more closely, thus supporting the idea of strengthening checks, Schengen.News reports.
According to the State Policy Commission, increased border controls are necessary in order for Switzerland to be able to prevent the entry of people who do not have the right to reside in the country and who do not have the intention of applying for asylum.
This measure, as the State Policy Commission noted will contribute to better internal security.
While the Federal Council agreed to increased border controls and accepted the motion, it stressed that the measures should remain in line with the commitments of Switzerland within the framework of the country’s association with Schengen.
In addition to the above-mentioned, the Federal Council said that the strengthened border controls should be in line with the non-refoulement policy. This means that even if the border checks get tightened, people may not be deported from Switzerland if they face the death penalty or other risks in their home country.
How Will Controls Affect Those Entering Switzerland via Its Land Borders?
Even though the Swiss authorities are yet to share more details about the planned strengthening of the border controls, it is believed that travellers will not be subject to long delays.
In general, when Schengen member states tighten their border controls, they carry out targeted checks, making sure that there are no disruptions.
Moreover, in most cases, daily commuters who need to cross the border for work or study purposes are also not affected, unless there are long queues.
Nonetheless, it is yet to be seen how Switzerland will decide to move on with the measure.
Germany Is the Latest Schengen Member State to Extend Its Border Controls
Currently, a number of Schengen member states have internal border controls in place, with Germany being the latest nation to extend the measure without it expiring yet.
Just last week, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that his country has decided to extend internal border controls beyond March 2025, for another six months. This means that Germany’s border checks will now remain in place until September 2025.
As explained by the German authorities, the decision to extend this measure was taken in an effort to control irregular migration and prevent smugglers from carrying out illegal activities.
