Parliament Canton Aargau calls for stronger border controls
Switzerland should reinforce border controls. This is what the canton of Aargau is calling for in a state initiative, which the Grand Council supported on Tuesday by 87 votes to 44.
03.06.2025, 10:45
SDA
The SVP and the FDP had submitted this initiative. "The latest security policy challenges make it necessary to strengthen border controls," they wrote in their initiative.
The situation in the cantons and municipalities is currently tense. The canton of Aargau is particularly affected due to its long external border. "The protection and security needs of our citizens must take center stage."
The initiative calls for the reintroduction of "temporary border controls", as was the case a year ago in connection with the European Football Championships. This is in the fight against cross-border crime and illegal migration. However, freight traffic and border traffic should not be affected.
Waiting times at the border
This is tantamount to squaring the circle, criticized the GLP, which also spoke of "populist symbolic politics". The conflict of objectives between controls and the free movement of people could not be resolved. The SP also pointed out that "every new control and every new bottleneck not only affects travelers, but also our economy".
However, the majority of the Grand Council spoke out in favor of the initiative. "Germany has tightened controls, Switzerland must follow suit," the center stated.
For the FDP, there are also ways to keep border traffic flowing despite controls, for example with digital solutions. However, the population would also accept certain waiting times at the border in return for increased security in the canton.
The state initiative will now be forwarded to the Federal Assembly in Bern. Similar considerations are underway there. The National Council had already spoken out in favor of more intensive controls at the Swiss border during its special asylum debate last March.
