Switzerland signs post-Brexit security cooperation deal with UK
Xinhua
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Karin Keller-Sutter and British Home Secretary Sajid Javid sign the contracts in London. (Photo: Agencies)


GENEVA, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Switzerland said on Wednesday it had agreed with Britain to maintain the flow of information on organized crime and terrorism even if Brexit begins without a deal with the European Union (EU).

The Swiss Federal Council said in a statement that Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter traveled to London on Wednesday to sign a memorandum of understanding that would bolster policing and security cooperation whatever happens with Britain's plan to leave the EU.

"Switzerland and the UK want to reinforce their already good cooperation on police matters," said the statement.

Both countries have reaffirmed their intention to work together even more closely in the future, especially in cases of organized crime and terrorism, it noted.

Should Britain leave the EU without a deal, the statement said, "all information from the British security services will be deleted from key EU databases, such as the Schengen Information System."

"In this case Switzerland, as indeed all other states in the Schengen area, would no longer have access to this valuable information, making it all the more necessary to find alternative forms of cooperation and other information channels," it added.