EU Slams France over Roma, Mulls Legal Action

Bulgaria in EU | September 14, 2010, Tuesday // 15:12|  views

"I am personally convinced that the Commission will have no choice but to initiate infringement proceedings against France," Viviane Reding said on Tuesday. Photo by EPA

The EU Justice Commissioner, Viviane Reding, said the European Commission is considering legal action against France over its deportations of Roma, which she called a "disgrace".

Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Reding said she would propose legal proceedings by the Commission over France's treatment of the Roma and that a Commission decision would be taken within two weeks.

The case would then go before the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, she said.

"I am personally convinced that the Commission will have no choice but to initiate infringement proceedings against France," Reding said.

"The role of the Commission as guardian of the treaties is made extremely difficult if we can no longer have confidence in the assurances given by two ministers in a formal meeting," she said.

"This is not a minor offence in a situation of this importance. After 11 years of experience in the Commission, I even go further: this is a disgrace," she said.

Recently French Immigration Minister Eric Besson and Minister for Europe Pierre Lellouche briefed Reding on France's handling of the Roma issue.

On Monday the French press published a leaked French official memo suggesting the Roma had been specifically targeted by the authorities.

The memo contradicted assurances to EU officials from Besson and Lellouche that immigrants were being treated on a case-by-case basis.

At the end of last week French Immigration Minister Eric Besson rejected the European Parliament calls to stop his government's controversial Roma-expulsion policy.

The European Parliament urged France to "immediately" suspend its controversial Roma-expulsion policy with a resolution approved on Thursday.

EU lawmakers expressed "deep concern" for measures "taken by French authorities and by other (EU) member states authorities" and urged "those authorities immediately to suspend all expulsions of Roma."

The European Commission has been accused of failing to protect members of the Roma community deported from France. Euro MPs demand to know if Paris has broken any laws, warning that other countries might take similar action.

Almost 8,300 Romanian and Bulgarian nationals have now been expelled from France since the beginning of the year. Close to 10,000 were expelled in 2009.

French officials have said the deportations are part of a broader crackdown on illegal immigration. Additional chartered flights are scheduled for September 14 and 30.

The crackdown has sparked major criticism at home and abroad. Former French prime minister Dominique de Villepin said Sarkozy's policies had left a "stain of shame" on the French flag and were a "national indignity."

Roma from Romania and Bulgaria are allowed free passage into France if they are European Union citizens. After that, however, they must find work, start studies, or find some other way of becoming established in France or risk deportation.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!


Tags: Viviane Reding, European Commission, Integration, Romania, Bulgaria, France, Roma, European Union, deportation, Italy, Roberto Maroni, ethnic Turks, European Commission, Schengen, Francois Fillon, Pierre Lellouche, Eric Besson

Back  

» Related Articles:

Search

Search