Brussels, 22/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is keeping its eye on Switzerland which is preparing to vote soon on an initiative relating to the deportation of foreign criminals, which could have possible repercussions on EU citizens. Informed of the initiative which is to be put to nationwide vote on 28 November this year, European Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding noted that Bern was undertaking a counter-project providing for exclusion of automatic expulsion in the event of crime, the commissioner's spokesman said on Thursday. Reding said she was convinced that the Swiss government would take every measure necessary to respect the rights of European citizens, he said, reported by ATS. These rights mainly arise from agreements on the free movement of persons and Schengen, which stipulate that European nationals cannot be expelled as easily as non-Europeans. Therefore, committing a crime is not in itself sufficient to warrant deportation and each case must be examined individually. (B.C./transl.jl)