Blick: Switzerland could be outside the Schengen area

In a referendum on increasing funding for the European agency Frontex, which is responsible for protecting the external borders of the Schengen area, Switzerland may lose its place in this space. This is reported by the publication Blick.

Experts have calculated that the country’s contribution to financing Frontex in the next five years could triple – from 24 million euros to 74. Thus, the maintenance of the organization for the authorities is becoming more and more expensive. However, a number of human rights organizations and politicians initiated the collection of signatures for strengthening the agency. The Swiss government said that if the majority votes for an increase in funding for Frontex, this will mean that the country will leave the Schengen agreement.

The publication clarifies that in this case, due to the need to obtain a visa, Switzerland will become less attractive for tourists and will become more interesting for migrants, since they will be able to re-apply for refugee status, even if they have already done so in other European countries.

The referendum will take place on May 15.

In December last year, the European Commission published a plan for the Schengen reform due to the pandemic and the migration crisis. The need for reform is explained by the coronavirus pandemic and the migration crisis in the EU countries bordering Belarus. The proposed protection mechanism of the Schengen Agreement should ensure that situations in which there is a “serious threat to public policy or internal security” can be addressed.

In general, the EC adheres to the idea of ​​free movement within the Schengen area with increased control at external borders and advocates the creation of interconnected security systems that will receive the support of EU institutions.