Swiss immigration: 50.3% back quotas, final results show
A coalition led by the Swiss People's Party wants to bring back quotas on immigration Swiss voters have narrowly backed a referendum proposal to bring back strict quotas for immigration from European Union countries.
Final results showed 50.3% voted in favour. The vote invalidates the Swiss-EU agreement on freedom of movement.
Fiercely independent Switzerland is not a member of the EU, but has adopted large sections of EU policy.
Brussels has already warned the Swiss that they cannot just choose the aspects they like.
A Yes vote of more than 50% is needed for the referendum to pass.
The BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva says the vote has shown up traditional divisions, with French-speaking areas against the quotas, German-speaking regions divided, and the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino firmly in favour.
A Yes vote means Swiss ministers will have some tricky explaining to do in Brussels, our correspondent says.
'Huge mistake'The vote comes amid increasing debate across Europe about migration and the impact of free movement of people.
Switzerland's economy is booming at the moment, and unemployment is low, but many Swiss worry about immigration.
A quarter of the eight million-strong population is foreign, and last year 80,000 new immigrants arrived.
Since 2007, most of the EU's 500 million residents have been on an equal footing with locals in the Swiss job market - the result of a policy voted into law in a 2000 referendum.
But a coalition led by the right-wing Swiss People's Party now wants to reverse this deal, saying it was a huge mistake.
There are many people in Switzerland who believe mass immigration is harming the country 
Those in favour of mass migration says the policy will benefit the Swiss economy 
The referendum will be keenly watched by other European nations debating their immigration policy Supporters of quotas believe free movement has put pressure on housing, health, education, and transport. They also argue that foreign workers drive salaries down.
But the Swiss government and business leaders say free movement is key to Switzerland's economic success, allowing employers to choose skilled staff from across Europe.
Switzerland's bilateral agreements with the EU took years of negotiation to achieve.
Our correspondent says that abandoning free movement could limit Switzerland's access to Europe's single market, where over half its exports are sold.
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