Italy's foreign minister Luigi Di Maio on Tuesday praised Switzerland's resounding rejection of a bid to cancel an agreement with the European Union on freedom of movement in a referendum called the rightwing Swiss People’s party.
"The 'popular initiative for the limitation' i.e. for the amendment of the Swiss Constitution to restrict the free movement of persons provided for in the agreements with the EU - was rejected in Switzerland by more than 61% of the voters," Di Maio said in a statement.
"It is the evident result of an exercise in direct democracy and good news for Italy and Europe," he added.
Sunday's vote also safeguards the rights of hundreds of thousands of Italian workers in Switzerland, Di Maio pointed out.
"It confirmed the confidence of the Swiss people in a close relationship with Europe, strengthened in recent months by the joint fight against COVID, and in the value of the work of many Italian and European immigrants in the Confederation."
Di Maio said he believed Sunday's referendum result would pave the way for swifter negotiation of advanced agreements between Switzerland and the EU "in the interest of the Swiss, Italians and all Europeans."
The statement came the day that Swiss president Simonetta Sommaruga held talks in Rome with Italy's premier Giuseppe Conte, Di Maio and Italy's president Sergio Mattarella aimed at further boosting bilateral ties that were cemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.
