Brussels, 29/07/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission will not oppose the decision by the French government to step up its policy of dismantling illegal Roma camps and returning those living in them to Romania or Bulgaria. European laws on the freedom of movement of European citizens allow member states to monitor what is happening within their borders and to tackle crime, Matthew Newman, spokesman for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Commissioner Viviane Reding said on Wednesday 29 July. The expulsions, he said, had to be considered on a case-by-case basis in case of a problem with individuals, adding that people's past records, charges pending against them, the length of their stay and links with the country have to be taken into account. “But it's up to the state to decide,” he stressed. At a crisis meeting called by President Nicolas Sarkozy, French authorities decided to take a series of severe measures, described by the Left and some associations as a “declaration of war”, against “some” Roma and travellers. The meeting was convened following violence a week and a half ago in a small town in the centre of France after the death of a young traveller. Among the main measures announced by the French government are: - the destruction of 300 illegal camps within three months; - the virtually immediate removal from the country of any Roma found guilty of breach of the peace or fraud and their return to Romania or Bulgaria; - an exchange of police officers between France and Romania and the secondment of tax inspectors; - the construction of sites for travelling people; - aid for Roma to find employment in their county of origin. There are in France some 400,000 “travellers”, a term covering various gypsy and Roma ethnic groups, mainly from the Balkans and in particular from Romania. Of these travellers 95% hold French nationality. (B.C./transl.rt)