BRUSSELS, June 5 (Xinhuanet) -- The European Commission (EC), the executive of the European Union (EU), on Sunday hailed the positive results of Swiss referendum over Schengan Area.

    "We welcome the democratic decision of the Swiss people, which have accepted the agreement on the Swiss association to the Schengan area," said a written declaration issued jointly by commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Commissioner Franco Frattini.

    "The participation of Switzerland in the Schengan area will strengthen the European space of free movement of persons without controls at the internal borders," said the declaration.

    The two commissioner believed that the ratification of these association agreements is an "important step" in the relations between Switzerland and the EU.

    "On the one hand, freedom of movement will obviously be facilitated; on the other hand, the cooperation on internal security can be strengthened," they added.

    On June 14, 1985, France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg signed an agreement on free of visa in Schengan, a small town in Luxembourg. The agreement entered into force in 1995.     

    Except Britain and Ireland, all other 13 old EU member states are in the Schengan Area. The ten new EU member states also show the intention to join the area. Enditem