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EU May Take Legal Action Against France Over Roma
BBC NEWS
September 14, 2010: EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding has urged the European Commission to take legal action against France over its deportations of Roma (Gypsies). Ms Reding called French actions a "disgrace". She deplored the fact that a leaked official memo contradicted assurances given to her by France. France's ongoing deportations of Roma to Bulgaria and Romania have been widely condemned.
This is not a minor offence. After 11 years of experience in the Commission, I even go further: this is a disgrace”, says Viviane Reding, EU Justice Commissioner
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Ms 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. France is accused of violating EU law, which bans discrimination against any ethnic group or nationality.
"I am personally convinced that the Commission will have no choice but to initiate infringement proceedings against France," Ms 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.
The BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels says Ms Reding's rebuke amounted to incredibly strong language from a European commissioner about a big member state. EU disciplinary action against France could lead to substantial fines.
Last week Euro MPs accused the Commission of failing to protect the Roma deported from France.
Critics see the law-and-order crackdown as a way for Mr. Sarkozy to boost his flagging popularity amid discontent over government cutbacks.
At least 1,000 people have been deported since late July, when President Nicolas Sarkozy linked illegal Roma camps to crimes such as prostitution and child exploitation.
On Tuesday, 69 Roma were flown out of the southern city of Marseille to Romania after agreeing to be repatriated in exchange for cash payments. France has dismantled many illegal Roma camps in recent weeks.
France denies that the expulsions target an ethnic group, saying they are done on a case-by-case basis. It also insists that most of them are voluntary.
