Executive Summary

On June 24, 2026, the Federal Council adopted a report examining the use of Swiss funds from European border management funds. Between 2014 and 2024, funds from the "Instrument for Border Management and Visa Policy" (BMVI Fund) and its predecessor "Internal Security Fund – Borders" (ISF-Borders) also flowed to countries where the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) has documented pushbacks and fundamental rights violations. However, the report does not establish a direct link between the use of fund resources and specific fundamental rights violations. The report was prepared at the request of the National Council (Motion 24.3137 of the SP parliamentary group).

Persons

  • SP parliamentary group (initiator of the motion)

Topics

  • Border management and visa policy
  • Fundamental rights protection
  • European funds
  • Pushbacks and human rights

Clarus Lead

Switzerland contributes to European security funds, whose resources partly flow to countries with documented fundamental rights violations. The report shows that existing control mechanisms at EU and national level have been expanded, but their practical effectiveness strongly depends on national implementation and available resources. This presents Switzerland with the challenge of using its participation rights and supervisory functions more effectively to ensure the fundamental rights compliance of its contributions.

Detailed Summary

The report documents that between 2014 and 2024, funds from both sources flowed to states where the FRA identified so-called pushbacks (forcible rejection of migrants at borders) and other human rights violations. Despite these observations, the report explicitly states that no direct causal link between the use of fund resources and documented fundamental rights violations has been established.

The report identifies several control mechanisms at various levels: EU-wide and in member states, supervisory and control structures exist that have been strengthened to ensure legally compliant use of funds. However, their practical effectiveness substantially depends on how countries implement these requirements, what institutional structures they have, and what resources are available to them.

Switzerland responds to this situation through several measures: It uses its participation rights in the further development of Schengen-relevant legal bases, maintains exchange with the European Commission, and conducts bilateral discussions. In projects with Swiss involvement, it places emphasis on implementation that complies with fundamental and human rights, and actively exercises its supervisory function. The report also notes that the BMVI Fund can indirectly contribute to fundamental rights-compliant asylum procedures, although asylum financing is not among its core objectives.

Key Findings

  • Swiss fund resources flowed to countries with documented fundamental rights violations without a direct link being established
  • Existing control mechanisms have been expanded, but their effectiveness strongly depends on national implementation
  • Switzerland uses participation rights and bilateral contacts to ensure fundamental rights compliance

Critical Questions

  1. Source Validity: What criteria does the FRA apply when documenting pushbacks, and how independent are these findings from the political interests of EU states?

  2. Evidence Quality: Why was the report unable to establish a causal link between fund resource use and fundamental rights violations – is there a lack of data, or are the funds distributed too indirectly?

  3. Conflicts of Interest: To what extent could Switzerland's interest in stable border management influence its critical review of fund resource use?

  4. Feasibility: How concretely can bilateral contacts and participation rights improve practical control in countries with weak institutional structures?

  5. Alternatives: Should Switzerland reconsider its payments into funds with documented risks, or are supervisory mechanisms the right instrument?

  6. Resource Dependency: Which countries have insufficient resources for implementing control, and how could Switzerland provide targeted support here?

Bibliography

Primary Source: Federal Council – Report on the Use of Funds from the BMVI Fund and ISF-Borders (24.06.2026) https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/saDZIJZKmfDv

Verification Status: ✓ 24.06.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: 24.06.2026