A referendum was underway Sunday in Switzerland on whether to pay millions of euros in additional funding for eastern European members of the European Union, REPORTED DPA. The additional 632 million euros (828 million dollars) would benefit Poland and other new EU members. Members of the conservative Swiss People's Party (SVP) had opposed the payment as they feared Switzerland would be asked to pay repeatedly later. Switzerland has close contacts with the EU on the basis of bilateral contracts and has already contributed towards development aid for financially weaker members. The government, the parliamentary majority, economic representatives and trade unions have backed the payments and see advantages therein saying Switzerland could benefit from stability and prosperity in eastern Europe. The result of the referendum was uncertain, with 14 per cent of eligible voters undecided, according to opinion polls.
