| Schengen and Beyond: Better for most, worse for some |
|
|
|
| The Plaindealer | |
| Written by Edward Girardet | |
|
While Swiss consulates abroad used to have flexibility in deciding who could enter Switzerland or not, sometimes turning around visa applications in one or two days, this is no longer possible. Switzerland now needs to consult all the other Schengen countries, and Interpol, before granting a visa. It means that applicants, regardless whether tourists, business people or government ministers, may now need to wait weeks to be issued a visa. At two recent international gatherings, several key African and Asian delegates, including one senior government official, had to cancel out because they were not issued visas in time. Even highlevel United Nations echelons no longer have the sway to push the applications. "Basically, we're going to have start with the visas a good month or two before hand," said a Swiss coordinator of a major NGO working with UN agencies and other international organizations. "It's not exactly good for what Geneva is trying to do as a leading global centre." The good news, however, is that there is now a three month one-for-all tourist visa enabling third country foreigners to visit both Switzerland and other Schengen member states without going through the hassle of seeking separate approvals.
Over the past two years leading up to the easing of air border controls under the Schengen agreement on March 29, 2009 – the land agreements came into effect on December 12, 2008 – the Swiss have spent 30 million Swiss francs developing the airport’s new security infrastructure. An estimated 70 percent of Geneva passengers are now believed to be benefitting from these improvements, which include new doors for separating the flow of Schengen and non-Schengen travelers, plus additional passport control points for non-Schengen arrivals and departures operated by Swiss and French police. Switzerland is now linked up to the Schengen Information System, which enables the police to share information on wanted or missing people, those refused entry as well as lost or stolen property. Switzerland also became part of the Dublin Agreement on December 3, 2008, which seeks to consolidate protection for asylum seekers. The Dublin initiative is designed to create a common European asylum system, providing a higher level of protection for asylum seekers and for those benefiting from international protection within the EU.
“This has already resulted in dramatic improvements for Schengen Area passengers,” noted Stämpfli. “It is far quicker, including for those arriving from abroad via international terminals in Paris or Frankfurt. Before, these terminals used to be the furthest away.” For others, however, it remains security-wise more of the same, although procedures have become smoother. Passengers leaving or entering the Schengen Area still need to go through passport controls with those flying to the United States required to undergo additional security to meet US requirements. While the former “Swiss” side of Geneva Airport, which is located on Swiss and French territory, now has all the facilities of a key European Schengen entry point, the French side remains archaically in operation with its own separate road and border entry point. “This is because of a historic agreement between the Swiss and the French,” explained Stämpfli. The French side has now become – in effect – a domestic airport for France with all flights only connecting with French mainland airports. Switzerland’s land borders have indeed become open, but some restrictions still apply, much to the frustration of crossborder residents in the Lake Geneva region who had understood that remaining controls would be completely lifted. As the Schengen Accords do not represent a customs’ agreement, French and Swiss frontier guards or customs officials can still stop travelers to see whether one is smuggling through undeclared flatscreen TV sets (cheaper in Switzerland), over-the-limit meat (cheaper in France), or cocaine, illegal on both sides. Some wonder whether this is simply a ploy to keep customs officials in jobs, and whether it is financially worthwhile from the taxpayers’ point of view. According to one Swiss government official, most trafficking successes rely more on good frontier guard or gendarmerie intelligence rather than spot checks. While it has become almost rare to see border guards – particularly at night - at the Ferney, CERN, or Blandonnet border points between Geneva and France, the Swiss frontier police still persist in inexplicably shutting the gate at night at non-manned borders such as the one between Versonnex and Collex-Bossy. Comments (1)
 Write comment
|
|
GENEVA -- Switzerland’s recent joining of the Schengen Agreement (see previous 
“The purpose of this is no secret,” said Bertrand Stämpfli of the Geneva International Airport authority, which now serves as an official
international air entry point for the Schengen area alongside Basle and
Zurich. “The Schengen accords are designed to make things easier for
all those resident in Switzerland and other Schengen member states, but
to make controls tighter for those coming from non-Schengen countries.”
Geneva airport has long been regarded as one of the world’s most
convenient and laidback international airports. For those now arriving
from Schengen countries, such as Spain or Finland, it has become even
easier. Passengers no longer need to go through passport controls
although the airlines still require ID for travel and basic airline
security checks continue as before.
Subscribe to this comment's feed
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
It is my Ugg Boots great pleasure to visit your website and to enjoy your excellent post here. I like that very much. I can feel that you paid much attention for those articles, as all of them make sense and are very useful. Thanks so much for sharing. I can be very good reader&listener if you are same searching for all to be good. Appreciate Ugg boots for your time!
Happy New Year！！！