Monday, 1st December 2008 - 15:54CET

Switzerland joining Schengen zone

Malta has welcomed an agreement between the EU and Switzerland which will see the gradual lifting of border controls between Switzerland and the countries which form part of the Schengen agreement.

Land frontiers will be lifted on December 12 and controls for air passengers will be removed on March 29, 2009.

Foreign Minister Tonio Borg said membership of the Schengen arrangement was a milestone for Malta and the Maltese people would now benefit from the arrangement with Switzerland as they would be able to freely travel to that without border controls.