Dropping out of the accords would be costly, according to the paper presented by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA)External link on Thursday. It commissioned research firm Ecoplan to assess the economic impact for Switzerland of belonging to the Schengen/Dublin regulatory systems.
The main effects would be seen in border control and visa rules, the two areas mainly overseen by Schengen and Dublin, respectively.
“If Switzerland were to withdraw from Schengen/Dublin, neighbouring states would have to carry out systematic border controls at the new external Schengen border with Switzerland. This would lead to significant waiting times and congestion at border crossings,” pointed out the FDFA in a statementExternal link.
It added that visitors requiring an extra visa to travel to Switzerland might also be put off – thus lowering the nation’s appeal as a business and leisure destination. Ecoplan estimated that without Schengen/Dublin, the Swiss economy would lose income of anywhere from CHF4.7 billion ($5 billion) to CHF10.7 billion ($11 billion) by 2030. In other words, GDP would drop by 1.6 to 3.7%.
The analysis was based on figures from the years 2012 to 2016, when participation in the Schengen deal cost Switzerland an average of CHF53 million per year.
However, the asylum cooperation regulations of the Dublin agreement yield savings that well exceed the Schengen-related costs. Because Switzerland transfers more people back to other European countries than it accepts, it has saved an average of CHF270 million per year, the report found.
Popular Stories
More
Banking & Fintech
Luxury heir claims his CHF11 billion Hermès fortune has vanished
Swiss investigate four people linked to Russian oligarch
This content was published on
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland is investigating four individuals linked to Russian oligarch Suleyman Kerimov.
Swiss government scrambles to deal with egg shortage
This content was published on
From September 1, more eggs intended for consumption may be imported into Switzerland. In allowing this, the government wants to secure the supply of eggs for consumers.
This content was published on
Agricultural research sees new development opportunities for Swiss sparkling wines in the face of declining wine consumption. In a survey, half of consumers expressed a willingness to pay more for local products than for foreign ones.
Locarno spotlights filmmakers from South America and Caribbean
This content was published on
The Open Doors section of the Locarno Film Festival has named the winners for 2024. The spotlight is on the South American and Caribbean regions.
Storm paralyses trains to popular Swiss tourist resort
This content was published on
The railway line between Zweilütschinen and Grindelwald in central Switzerland is expected to remain closed until Friday following heavy rains.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.