Brussels, 26/08/2010 (Agence Europe) - European Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding has finally given her eagerly awaited reaction to the situation of the Roma in France, expressing her concern and reminding the French state of its responsibilities. “I have been following with great attention and some concern the developments over the past days in France,” she says in a press release. “On the one hand, I fully acknowledge that it is the sole responsibility of member states to ensure public order and the safety of their citizens on their national territory. On the other hand, I expect that all member states respect the commonly agreed EU rules on free movement, non-discrimination and the common values of the European Union, notably the respect for fundamental rights, including the rights of people belonging to minorities,” she goes on, noting: “It is clear that those who break the law need to face the consequences. It is equally clear that nobody should face expulsion just for being Roma”. The commissioner also called for an open, frank and honest dialogue with “all” member states, with the Treaties and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights forming the basis for this discussion. “If needed, the European Commission stands ready to act as a broker between member states and to monitor and assess progress being made,” she said. The Commission has finally been invited by the French government to attend the informal meeting to discuss immigration which it is holding on 6 September. Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström will attend the meeting which will be devoted to tackling illegal immigration. Reding's reference in her statement to “openly discriminatory and partly inflammatory” rhetoric used in some member states over the past weeks was also an implicit criticism of the comments of Italian Home Affairs Minister Roberto Maroni. The Italian minister said that he would ask the Commission to authorise the expulsion of member state nationals when their living conditions were deemed to be unsatisfactory. “The situation of the Roma is a serious matter,” Reding said, calling for it to be treated “carefully and responsibly by policy-makers”. She concluded by saying that “Europe is not just a common market - it is at the same time a Community of values and fundamental rights. The European Commission will watch over this”. The leader of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, said on Thursday that France's expulsion of Roma was “appalling” and he called on the EU to condemn this breach of European law on the free movement of persons by France. (B.C./transl.rt)