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Latest update: 15/09/2010
- European Commission - France - Nicolas Sarkozy - Roma people
France hits back at EU criticism of Roma expulsions
France’s presidency has reacted angrily to EU criticism of its Roma policy, saying comments made by European Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding were "unacceptable".
AP - President Nicolas Sarkozy’s office fired back Wednesday at European Commission criticism of France’s crackdown on Gypsies, or Roma, saying some of the complaints are unacceptable.
A day earlier, EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding called France’s expulsions of Roma to Eastern Europe “a disgrace” - something she had thought Europe would not have to witness again after World War II.
The exchange heightened tensions between France and the European Union a day before a summit of EU leaders Thursday in Brussels. Sarkozy’s office said the issue of the Roma was not on the agenda for talks.
French authorities have recently dismantled more than 100 illegal camps and sent home more than 1,000 Roma, mainly back to Romania, in a crackdown that has drawn international condemnation. Sarkozy has called Roma camps sources of crime such as illegal trafficking and child exploitation.
A senior official at the presidential palace said France doesn’t want an argument with the commission but “some of the comments are simply unacceptable.” He declined to be named, in line with office policy.
After a Cabinet meeting, government spokesman Luc Chatel also objected to Reding’s remarks, saying, “It is unacceptable to compare the situation today with a tragic period in our history.”
“I fear that such positions ... will only widen the gap between the French people and the European institutions,” he said.
Chatel said he believed Reding had been expressing her personal beliefs, but Commission spokeswoman Pia Ahrenkilde said Reding had been speaking for the entire commission.
In an act of solidarity with the Roma, an umbrella group of black associations in France, CRAN, said it would file a complaint against the Interior Ministry for “inciting racial hatred.”
The complaint is based on a government letter sent this summer to regional officials and telling them that Roma camps were the priority in a nationwide sweep to dismantle illegal squatters’ quarters.
The blunt letter, made public last week, shocked many people in France, where officials are supposed to be blind to race, religion and ethnicity. Speaking on RTL radio Wednesday, Pierre Lellouche, France’s European affairs minister, acknowledged the letter “shouldn’t have been written like that.”
Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux’s office said he had issued a new letter on the subject to the regional officials Monday - one that did not include any reference to Roma.
Roma face discrimination in housing, jobs and education across Europe. As EU citizens, they have a right to travel to France, but must get papers to work or live there in the long term.
As many as 15,000 Roma live in France, according to the advocacy group Romeurope. French authorities have no official estimate.
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Comments (3)
Roma
Sir,
I support your actions and feel many people also support you and France.
I feel you are protecting France,finacially and improving the security all who LIVE there.
I live in England and see many people who do not contibute to the economy but are first in line with their hands out, and it should not continue in these time when Governaments are increasing taxes and reducing services and expect nothing to be said for fear of being politically wrong.
You have had the courage to do it, keep strong and good luck to you and France.
roma expulsions.
were the roma paid to leave france,or were they just told to walk?
Roma
I don't see a problem with this. France is only doing what they are supposed to do, Protect France. All these illeagal imagrants, no matter what country they invade, are just running away from their problem stricken countries. Perhaps if they went back home they could help to fix the problems instead of running away from them. Work for what you want. Fix your own problems and stop cuaseing more for someone else.
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