Brussels, 09/09/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament (EP) has expressed its “deep concern” at the measures taken by French authorities and other member states and argued that mass expulsions of Roma people violate EU law as they amount to discrimination on the basis of race. In a resolution adopted on Thursday 9 September by 337 votes to 245, with 51 abstentions, MEPs regretted the “inflammatory and openly discriminatory rhetoric” of some politicians and the lack of action from the Council and the Commission. The text, put down by the S&D, ALDE, Greens/EFA and GUE/NGL groups, called for France and other member states “immediately to suspend all expulsions of Roma”. MEPs said that taking the fingerprints of expelled Roma was illegal and contrary to the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Parliament also rejected any statements “which link minorities and immigration with criminality and create discriminatory stereotypes” and the “inflammatory and openly discriminatory rhetoric that has characterised political discourse during the repatriations of Roma, lending credibility to racist statements and the actions of extreme right-wing groups”.
The EP noted that EU legislation on free movement stipulates that “the lack of economic means can in no circumstances justify the automatic expulsion of EU citizens” and that restrictions on freedom of movement can be imposed “solely on the basis of personal conduct, and not of general considerations of prevention or ethnic or national origin”. Moreover, expulsion decisions must be assessed and decided on an individual basis, taking into consideration personal circumstances and guaranteeing procedural safeguards and redress.
A full analysis of the situation in France and other member states required. Parliament “deeply deplores the late and limited response by the Commission, as guardian of the Treaties, to the need to verify the consistency of member states' actions with EU primary law and EU legislation”. The college of commissioners must, the EP says, “stand firmly behind the values and principles enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the Treaties” and “respond promptly with a full analysis of the situation in France and in all the member states” (see EUROPE 10113).
French EPP delegation slates the political exploitation of the situation by Left and Liberals. In a press release, the French delegation in the EPP regrets that “a Left- wing and Liberal majority in the EP has decided to foment a sterile, politically-motivated debate”. It says that “with its hypocritical disapproval and baseless condemnation”, the EP was “helping to enmire the debate”. The press release went on: “The EPP Group was unable, unfortunately, to win the day with its constructive position, firmly based on the fate of the Roma and on possible measures to improve their daily lives”. The French EPP delegation accepted that the current situation was “disastrous” and that things were unlikely to improve. “The EU must take up the issue, and finally draft a coherent and ambitious European strategy for the Roma, which can be applied without distinction in each of the EU member states where Roma groups are likely to be found. Thus, the EPP will set up a reflection group to prepare this strategy, which will be accompanied by a firm multiple-chapter action plan to improve the lives of the Roma in Europe, work on their political representation, ensure their access to education and health care, tackle the influence of criminal organisations on these vulnerable people, particularly women - through prostitution - and children,” the French EPP delegation argues.
Commission sets up Roma taskforce
The European Commission set up a Roma taskforce on Tuesday 7 September, to investigate the use made by member states of EU funding for Roma integration. The first findings of the taskforce will be presented to the college of commissioner before the end of the year. The Commission has said that it will regularly update the European Parliament and the Council of the taskforce findings.
The Commission will also: - ask the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers to hold a meeting of justice and social affairs ministers as soon as possible to determine the best use that can be made of national and European funding for the economic and social integration of the Roma: this Council meeting should then be followed up by annual ministerial-level meetings; - hold regular meetings with expert officials to assess progress towards Roma integration in member states; - call on future Council Presidencies to assess the priorities set out in the roadmap approved in June by the European Roma Platform; - continue to make sure that measures taken by member states with regard to the Roma respect EU law on freedom of movement, non-discrimination and the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
The proposal was included in the assessment of the situation of the Roma in France and in Europe by Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding (justice, fundamental rights and citizenship), and commissioners László Andor (social affairs, employment and inclusion) and Cecilia Malmström (home affairs). The taskforce, comprising experts from the Commission departments involved, will examine the follow-up given by member states to the Commission communication of 7 April, “The Social and Economic Integration of the Roma in Europe” (see EUROPE 10113). (G.B./transl.rt)