Geneva airport may be forced to take on more of the cost of border controls after a federal audit suggests the Confederation is paying too much – maybe up to CHF 22m a year.
The report comes at a bad time for the airport which is battling diminishing finances due to the effects of the pandemic.
The problem seems to stem from the question; who is responsible for checking people who are entering from Schengen countries? The law says that’s a responsibility of the canton and not federally.
The audit points out that in Zurich, cantonal police officers take on far more responsibility for controlling entry at the airport.
But Geneva cantonal minister Mauro Poggia disagrees – he says border security should be the responsibility of the Confederation. He says that’s common sense.
A recent move by Zurich airport seems to have raised the issue as it has put in a claim for more money from Bern for border control. It points out the airport serves more than one canton, so why should it pay for border controls? Geneva is now making the same argument.
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