Switzerland brings down borders with Europe

Those driving through Switzerland this Christmas will face less hassle as the Swiss authorities have dismantled their borders with Germany, Austria, Italy and France, after joining the passport-free Schengen zone.

However, those flying from Malta to Basle or Zurich will still need to have their passports checked on arrival since the air borders between Switzerland and Schengen-area members will only be lifted at the end of March.

Switzerland was given the green light to join the Schengen area by EU Justice Ministers last month once the Alpine country had fulfilled all the security cooperation requirements.

On accepting membership, the Swiss government agreed to implement EU asylum rules included in the Dublin regulation. The agreement will also give Switzerland access to the Schengen Information System - a Europe-wide database packed with details on wanted or missing people and stolen items.

The Schengen area was enlarged for the last time last December when it was joined by Malta, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. Even in this case, air borders were only lifted at the end of March.

Switzerland will become the third non-EU member of Schengen, after Norway and Iceland. Five EU member states - Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the UK - remain outside the bloc.

Welcoming the Swiss into the Schengen community, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso said Schengen had been successful in dismantling obstacles to unity, peace and freedom in Europe, while paving the way for enhanced security.

"Switzerland has once again shown its commitment to cooperating as closely as possible with the EU for the benefit of the Swiss," he said.