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IMMIGRATION

Immigrants trust the state and the police more than Swiss locals

Immigrants to Switzerland have a higher degree of trust in state entities and the police than locals, a new report has found.

Immigrants trust the state and the police more than Swiss locals
Swiss Federal Councillor and Minister for Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis (R) and Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio (L) salute border police. Photo: Alessandro Crinari / POOL / AFP

The report, compiled by Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office, found that immigrants to Switzerland had a higher level of trust in the state and state entities like the police. 

While only 41 percent of Swiss trust the political system, 53 percent of immigrants say they have trust in politics. 

READ: Immigrants twice as likely to struggle financially as Swiss

Both Swiss locals and immigrants have a higher level of trust in police than they do in the political system, although immigrants still had more trust for police. 

In total, 65 percent of locals said they trust the police, compared with 70 percent of foreigners or immigrants. 

Broad agreement on equal opportunity

Immigrants and locals largely agree on the need to ensure equal opportunities for everyone in Switzerland regardless of their backgrounds. 

Three-quarters of immigrants (75 percent) and 68 percent of locals said everyone in the country should have the same access to opportunities. 

Locals vote more frequently

Switzerland, with its regular referenda and representative elections, is known for going to the polls frequently. 

This seems to be better understood among locals, of whom 67 percent participate in elections regularly. 

'I pay taxes but have no say in Swiss life': Your views on whether Switzerland should allow all foreigners to vote 

Among foreigners eligible to vote, 60 percent vote regularly. 

 

 

 

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IMMIGRATION

Why is Switzerland spending 300 million francs to protect Schengen borders?

From August 1st, 2024, Switzerland will contribute financially to the European effort to strengthen the protection of the Schengen area’s external borders.

Why is Switzerland spending 300 million francs to protect Schengen borders?

Though Switzerland is not a member of the EU, it does belong to the Schengen area — not only benefitting from the access to Europe’s borderless zone, but also participating in its funding.

Financial support is especially needed in Schengen countries with particularly extensive land and sea borders or major international airports on their territories, because they bear a heavy financial burden of securing the zone’s external borders, for the benefit of all the other members.

How will Switzerland’s 300-million-franc contribution be used?

Over the period of next seven years, it will go toward the programme called Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy (BMVl), which is part of the fund that ensures efficient management of EU’s borders.

The EU already allocated 6.24 billion euros to the BMVI for a seven-year period, and 300 million francs is Switzerland’s share.

Specifically, those funds will be used towards improving external border controls, investing in common large-scale IT systems in the area of borders management and visa policy, funding infrastructure and equipment, and deployment of immigration liaison officers, among other tasks.

Why is Switzerland contributing 300 million francs?

The BMVl’s goal is to “improve the protection of the external borders of the Schengen area and, therefore, to increase the effectiveness of border controls and prevent illegal immigration,” the Federal Council said

This, along with effective and integrated management of the external borders “is also in Switzerland’s interest.”

Also, Switzerland will likely receive grants from the BMVl of around 50 million francs to be allocated mainly to the establishment of new EU information systems (EES Entry and Exit System, and European Travel Information and Authorization System ETIAS) on its territory.

Furthermore, it is planned to use part of these resources to finance the expansion of the border control infrastructure at Zurich Airport.

Benefits for Switzerland

There is no doubt that Swiss citizens benefit greatly from access to the Schengen zone.

Simply put, it allows anyone who is in Switzerland legally to enjoy hassle-free travel to and from the 26 other Schengen states, visa time limits permitting.

Travellers arriving into Switzerland for the first time from a non-Schengen state like the UK or the US will have to queue up to have their passports checked, but after that they can move freely.

That means Swiss citizens, EU nationals, non-EU international residents in Switzerland, tourists, exchange students or people travelling for business can travel on to another Schengen member state, perhaps neighbouring France or Germany by car or train, without having to show their passports. (Although occasionally checks are brought back.) 

That is a definite ‘plus’ for anyone who travels within Europe. Due to Switzerland having so many land borders with other Schengen countries it would have been hugely problematic not to join.
 

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