Foreign Frontex experts to remain at Swiss airports in future
Published: Wednesday, Nov 13th 2024, 12:30
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Foreign Frontex specialists will continue to support Swiss border control personnel at the three Swiss national airports. The Federal Council has approved the annual deployment of up to twelve foreign experts until further notice.
As the national government announced following its decision on Wednesday, foreign personnel have been carrying out such missions since 2012. They always take place under Swiss command and are unarmed. The missions last up to six months.
According to the press release, the aim of the joint work is to exchange experiences and develop uniform standards for the protection of the Schengen external borders. The foreign forces are only authorized to carry out sovereign activities under Swiss command.
Frontex is the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. It coordinates and supports operational cooperation between the Schengen states to protect the Schengen external borders. Switzerland is part of the Schengen area.
According to information provided by the Federal Council last summer, these missions were approved at official level before the fall of 2022. Since then, the Federal Council has been responsible for this.
©Keystone/SDA
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