In order to improve border security, the Federal Council intends to contribute €300 million to the Schengen Funds. Switzerland will receive roughly CHF 50 million as part of this plan from the fund to assist domestic measures. An official statement from the Federal Council’s fund for national initiatives served as the announcement of this decision.

The statement underscores how crucial it is to managing migratory security within Switzerland to reinforce the protection of the external Schengen border. It also emphasizes how tighter restrictions at the country’s borders translate into fewer border checks being necessary within Switzerland.

The Federal Council also emphasizes the significance of the BMVI fund, which aims to increase control effectiveness, strengthen external border protection, and reduce unauthorized admissions. Additionally, the fund is intended to speed up and facilitate legal entry. It is anticipated that the 50 million dollars allocated to Switzerland will be used to improve IT infrastructure within the Schengen Area.

The Internal Security Fund was replaced by the BMVI Fund after 2020 came to an end. The total financial allotment for the BMVI Fund for the years 2021 to 2027 is pegged at about €6.2 billion.

The improvements made to the Schengen Information System (SIS) a year ago, which strengthened security within the Schengen Zone, were warmly welcomed by Swiss authorities. Switzerland’s support for the system’s implementation was indicated by this action.

The Swiss Federal Council reports that a meeting held on October 19, 2022 gave the go-ahead for the expanded SIS to be included into Swiss law at the ordinance level. On November 22, 2022, the new rules became legally binding.

The Federal Council’s declaration from that time emphasized the coordinated efforts of the Schengen nations to improve the Schengen Information System (SIS) in order to maximize security within the Schengen region. The changes aimed to strengthen Schengen’s anti-unauthorized stay regulations and improve national security and migration cooperation in Europe.

The Council emphasized that the new rule will allow access rights to information about individuals of interest to immigration officials and other relevant bodies. It also increased the number of alert categories, including those requiring protection among others.

The Council also proposed significant changes to the Ordinance on Admission, Residence, and Employment (VZAE).