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Article: Welcome to Switzerland: Swiss voters have extended the welcome mat giving citizens of ten new EU countries the right to live and work in Switzerland. The outcome sparked renewed debate surrounding Switzerland's potential membership in the European club of nations.(REFERENDUM COUNTDOWN)
- Article from:
- Swiss News
- Article date:
- November 1, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Swiss News. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Some analysts interpreted the September yes-vote as support for EU membership while others said it signals continuing support for the existing arrangement--namely our bilateral agreements with Europe. Whatever your interpretation, Switzerland is showing a willingness to open up to its European neighbours.
After saying yes to joining 15 EU countries in a passport-free zone back in June, Swiss voters have now extended the Swiss/EU labour accord on the free movement of people to include the new EU. Precautions will be taken against wage dumping and problematic surges in immigration, but the move means 75 million people from mostly eastern-European countries will ...