2027 IBM Action Plan

Working closely with the authorities concerned, SEM has developed the 2027 Integrated Border Management (IBM) Action Plan to put the IBM Strategy into practice. Unlike the previous 2014 IBM Action Plan, which was a conventional report, the new plan is designed to be constantly evolving. For this reason it is available exclusively in electronic form (on this website) and not in print or printable form. This way, the new action plan can be continuously adapted to changing challenges in the migration and security sector, providing flexibility when implementing measures and documenting the work of border control officers.

The 2027 IBM Action Plan describes all the measures that need to be implemented to realise the IBM Strategy. It will be regularly reviewed and adapted to the situation on the ground – in particular to the migration, security and other challenges border control authorities face currently. Having an adaptive action plan in place makes it possible to consider current and future challenges in border management in a way that is modern, comprehensive and in line with EU recommendations. It also takes into account the lessons learned from the previous action plan.

The 2027 IBM Action Plan builds on two pillars: the key measures and the standard measures, which are listed in the action plan’s table of measures.

Key measures

Key measures are measures that require significant coordination and cooperation between the authorities involved. They are of particular practical and political significance. The Border Steering Group is responsible for these key measures and for the project overall, while management of the project is handled by the responsible authorities. Four key measures have been identified and approved by the Border Steering Group to achieve the strategic objectives; they are listed in the following table:

Standard measures

The action plan’s standard measures are short-term tasks or projects carried out by a canton to meet the objectives of the 2027 IBM Strategy. Each border control authority defines its own, innovative standard measures.

A standard measure is thus a task an authority carries out that goes beyond what is legally required of them. What is not meant here are core day-to-day activities that are carried out to meet a legal mandate (e.g. border checks), but rather measures that make it possible to more easily, simply and effectively meet such a mandate. Standard measures must be limited in time; they are considered completed when the improvements have been successfully made. In short, they are tasks and/or support projects carried out in order to facilitate the fulfilment of traditional border management tasks (e.g. setting up Automated Border Control (ABC) Gates at airports).

The following is a list of criteria for a task or project to be considered a standard measure:

  • A short-term task or project aimed at realising the 2027 IBM Strategy objectives;
  • that is innovative;
  • that is not considered ‘daily business’ and not expressly required by law;
  • that permanently improves, simplifies or fulfils a legal requirement in a more efficient way;
  • and that is limited in time.

SEM will continuously update its list of standard measures based on the information it receives from the responsible authorities. The standard measures are an important part of the action plan and are published in the table hereafter. The cantons and federal authorities with border management responsibilities will implement and manage their projects themselves and periodically report back to SEM. If a canton or federal authority announces a measure that has an effect on the dynamic action plan, SEM will publish this information and actively inform the public about the progress of the work. Both key measures and standard measures will contribute equally to the realisation of the IBM Strategy’s objectives, and together form the 2027 IBM Action Plan.

Monitoring and updating intervals of the action plan

The action plan will be updated in intervals that are synchronised with the meetings of the Border Steering Group. In principle, this will occur every six months. In these meetings, the authorities concerned will be invited to present the progress they have made with their projects. Where appropriate, SEM will identify and actively inform the public about changes to the action plan directly on the website.

Last modification 29.11.2023

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