The Swiss authorities put to vote whether the country should back or oppose an increase in the contributions for Frontex, the EU Border and Coast Guard Agency. A referendum on the topic was decided after more than 62,000 citizens signed to urge the country’s authorities to stop financing Frontex. The backlash came after the Executive Director of the organisation, Fabrice Leggeri, resigned on April 29 amid a series of accusations of illegal pushbacks of migrants.
But the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, warned the voters that a ‘No’ to the referendum could mean that Switzerland will be excluded from the Schengen area.
In an interview with the Swiss Tamedia media group last week, Ms Johansson stated that there will be consequences if the referendum brings a ‘No’ win.
She said: “And the consequence could be the end of Schengen and Dublin for Switzerland.”
The Commissioner stressed that it is not in the EU’s interest to see Switzerland leave Europe’s Schengen Area.
The Swiss people opposed an increase to Frontex’s budget (Image: Getty)
However, she pointed to the EU and Switzerland’s agreement, and added: “We will insist that Switzerland is not able to choose which part of the agreement it may want to respect.
“Schengen is not an “à-la-carte menu.”
Schengen is a passport-free movement area comprising 26 European countries, and Frontex is tasked with border control of it.
An increase to the budget of Frontex could see Switzerland contribute up to CHf 61million (£49.7million) in 2027, a notable increase from the current CHf 24million (£19.5million) in 2021.
source:express
