Germany: handle Swiss immigration vote cautiously

Published February 18, 2014 11:50am ET



BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel is urging caution in the European Union’s response to Swiss voters’ decision to impose immigration curbs, arguing that it doesn’t make sense to rush into retaliation.

Switzerland narrowly voted Feb. 9 to introduce immigration quotas for all foreigners, including those from the EU. The government has three years to implement them. The decision raises questions over several bilateral agreements; on Monday, Brussels indefinitely suspended negotiations with Bern about Swiss participation in two research programs.

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