EU Cancels Charges against France over Roma Expulsion

The Commissioner in charge of Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, Viviane Reding, announced EC has backtracked on plans to impose legal sanctions on France over deportation of Roma. Photo by BGNES

The European Commission has officially canceled its intention to start an infringement procedure against France over Roma expulsion, after the latter agreed to amend its legislation in order to comply with the EU law.

"Following the official commitments made by France last Friday, the European Commission will now, for the time being, not pursue the infringement procedure against France," EU Commissioner on justice, Viviane Reding, announced Tuesday, as cited by EUobserver.

France has repatriated thousands of Roma to Romania and Bulgaria since the beginning of the year. Its policy came under fire from Brussels when it appeared that police had been ordered to target Roma camps as they went about tackling irregular migration.

Reding has defined France's controversial policy as "disgrace" and has compared it with the expulsions during the Second World War.

Although France's President Nicolas Sarkozy has stated there were no proofs for launching of anti-discrimination case, the EC ordered France to amend its laws and fully incorporate the EU's 2004 directive on free movement of people.

Last week the French foreign ministry announced that the country has decided to comply with the EU law.

After Tuesday's decision of the EC, Reding announced she was glad that France has responded positively and constructively.

"This is proof of the good functioning of the European Union as a Community governed by the rule of law," she said.

The French President has also expressed his relief with the decision.

"I am very happy that reason has triumphed. The commission has decided not to launch proceedings against France for discrimination for the simple reason that, as I have always said, there was no discrimination," Sarkozy said.

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