Brussels, 29/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 29 November, the European Commission refused to condemn the outcome of the referendum on Sunday in which a majority of Swiss (52.9%) backed the initiative by the populist Right which calls for foreign criminals and law-breakers systematically to be expelled. Maja Kocijancic, the spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, said only that note had been taken of the previous day's voting, and that the EU would look closely at how this result would be implemented in Switzerland. She added that she was sure that the Swiss government would continue to meet its obligations under international treaties. Systematic expulsion of Schengen area nationals could put a question mark over the bilateral agreements between the Swiss Confederation and the European Union, for example, with regard to the free movement of persons. For the moment, the Commission is taking a cautious approach. Spokeswoman Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen said the Commission would wait to receive a copy of the Bill, before coming to any decisions. “We remain confident that Switzerland will comply with the agreements it has signed,” she said. This position contrasts sharply with the comments made on Sunday by Commission President José Manuel Barroso, who spoke out strongly against the rise of populism in Europe. Without specific reference to Switzerland, he expressed a general concern at the rise in nationalistic, chauvinistic, xenophobic and some times even very aggressive populist sentiments in Europe. At the end of 2009, the Swiss gave 57% approval to a ban on constructing new minarets, and, in the process, launched a debate in several EU countries. This latest Swiss vote is likely also to provoke reactions, including at the meeting of European justice and home affairs ministers in Brussels on 2-3 December, which will be attended by Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga as a representative of a member state of the Schengen area. According to the Swiss media, a number of Swiss “freedom of movement” experts will travel to Brussels on Tuesday for discussions on this issue with Community specialists. (B.C./transl.rt)