Brussels, 18/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - In the referendum of Sunday 17 May, the Swiss narrowly approved the creation of a biometric passport in the Swiss Confederation, as is required under the Schengen agreements on free movement to which the country signed up in December. The Yes-vote won by a very slight majority, with 50.14% of the votes. Switzerland now has until 1 March 2010 to move over to the new passport. Reiterating that the public vote is an "internal affair" of the Swiss Confederation, the European Commission nonetheless welcomed the fact that the people of Switzerland had accepted the new legislation. (B.C./transl.fl)