Swiss narrowly vote to join European passport-free zone

A NARROW majority of Swiss voters approved joining an EU passport-free zone, abolishing checks on the country’s border by 2007, according to final results from a two-issue national referendum yesterday.

In a second vote, a larger majority favoured granting more rights to same-sex couples in the first national referendum on such an issue in Europe.

About 55% of voters favoured joining the EU's passport-free "Schengen" zone, indicating that the Swiss favour closer integration with the EU of which Switzerland is not a member. That mean Swiss customs controls would remain in place.