Immigration caps to reduce ecological footprint / Strict immigration curbs overwhelmingly rejected

A controversial approach to reduce population growth in Switzerland was to be decided by voters in a referendum on the 30 November 2014. The Ecopop initiative wanted to curb immigration and promote birth control in developing countries.

The Swiss Business Federation, Economiesuisse, campaigned against Ecopop, as did some Green groups, and all mainstream political parties in Switzerland.

In the event voters massively dismissed the proposal to reduce Switzerland's ecological footprint by introducing strict immigration rules and family planning measures. Near-final results showed a clear rejection of the Ecopop initiative.

Swiss voters also rejected proposals to boost gold reserves.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Switzerland reconsiders immigration policy http://www.europeansources.info/record/switzerland-reconsiders-immigration-policy/

BBC News, 29.11.14: Swiss 'Ecopop' referendum calls for big immigration cut http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30195633

Swissinfo.ch: Tag: Vote November 30, 2014 http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/in-depth/2014-11-30-vote

Wikipedia: Ecopop http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecopop

Swissinfo.ch, 19.11.14: Poll: voters edge towards immigration curbs http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/poll--voters-edge-towards-immigration-curbs-/41123634

Deutsche Welle, 28.11.14: Switzerland tackles immigration - yet again http://dw.de/p/1DuAD

BBC News, 30.11.14: Swiss 'reject immigration curbs' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30267042

Deutsche Welle, 30.11.14: Swiss reject immigration cap, initial results suggest http://dw.de/p/1DxGe

EurActiv, 01.12.14: Swiss reject new curbs on immigration, boosting gold reserves http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/swiss-reject-new-curbs-immigration-boosting-gold-reserves-310451

EUObserver, 01.12.14: Swiss voters reject immigration cap http://euobserver.com/news/126729

Süddeutsche Zeitung, 01.12.14: Anti-Ecopop vote shows Swiss moderation (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE154518-Anti-Ecopop-vote-shows-Swiss-moderation

Tages-Anzeiger, 01.12.14: Swiss integration in the EU conceivable (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE154509-Swiss-integration-in-the-EU-conceivable

Swissinfo.ch, 01.12.14: Relief prevails after rejection of 'Ecoflop' vote http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/relief-prevails-after-rejection-of--ecoflop--vote-/41144384

Euronews, 30.11.14: Switzerland says “No” to immigration limit http://www.euronews.com/2014/11/30/switzerland-says-no-to-immigration-limit/

The Guardian, 30.11.14: Switzerland rejects immigration cap http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/30/switzerland-rejects-immigration-cap

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