Switzerland to contribute to Schengen external borders fund

Switzerland has agreed to contribute CHF20.6 million ($20.6 million) a year towards a European Union fund aimed at supporting Schengen member states in protecting external borders.  The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) announced on Tuesday that Switzerland had ratified an additional agreement with Brussels to finalise its contribution to the so-called Internal Security Fund (ISF-Borders). In spring, the Swiss parliament followed the Federal Council in giving its green light. Switzerland is not a member of the EU but, like Norway and Iceland, is an associate of the Schengen area– the European zone of border-free travel comprising 26 nations, mostly belonging to the EU.  + Read more about report into Swiss participation in Schengen/Dublin accords Under the agreement, Switzerland will give CHF144 million over seven years to the ISF-Borders fund, or CHF20.6 million per year. Swiss participation will be effective from August 1. The European fund, like its successor the ...