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Cabinet signs border deal with Liechtenstein

Switzerland and Liechtenstein have signed a framework agreement on police border controls necessary as part of the Swiss accession to Schengen.

Switzerland will become a part of the Schengen zone on December 12 while the principality still has to ratify the treaty with the European Union.

There are currently no controls on the 41 kilometres that separate the two countries, yet the border will effectively become a Schengen frontier as of December 12 since Liechtenstein will not be signed up by then.

The deal reached on Wednesday between Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf and Liechtenstein Prime Minister Otmar Hasler includes provisions for the Schengen-conform issuing of visas and cross-border movements of people.

The accord also defines the terms under which Swiss border guards can operate on Liechtenstein territory.

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