Euranet: Bulgarian Roma Paid to Leave France

Illegally camped Bulgarian Roma people in Bordeaux, France, have been offered cash to return to Bulgaria, in a government move widely seen as ineffective. File photo

by Krysia Kolosowska

Euranet.eu

February 17, 2010

About 200 illegal Bulgarian Roma immigrants camping in Bordeaux, France, have accepted government incentives and agreed to return to Bulgaria. But critics say they will just be back again within a fortnight.

The immigrants were offered E4R 300 per adult and EUR 100 per child to return home. The French office for immigration and integration handled their transport.

The operation has been slammed as "costly and unnecessary", by Jerome Lobao, the president of the ProCom group, which is a part of the Romeurope human rights organization.

"Many of them said they would return to Bordeaux in ten days," said Lobao, explaining that a bus return fare from Bulgaria costs around EUR 50.

ProCom is striving to improve the living conditions of the Roma people throughout Europe. But according to Lobao, administrative red tape is discouraging prospective employers from offering legal employment to Roma immigrants, forcing them to work illegally or turn to begging.

There are about 10 illegal immigrants camps in and around Bordeaux, which hold about 400 Roma people, the majority of which hail from Bulgaria.

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