Brussels, 16/09/2010 (Agence Europe) - The issue of the Roma, over which France and the European Commission have clashed, was included in the European Council agenda on Thursday 16 September at the request of several delegations. Following an exchange of views among heads of state and government, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy drew five conclusions: (1) member states have the right and a duty to apply the law in order to safeguard the rule of law; (2) the Commission has the right and a duty to ensure the directives on free movement and discrimination, two fundamental rights, are applied, and the Commission has the right to conduct investigations; (3) members of the Council noted the decision by José Manuel Barroso who was speaking on behalf of the whole college of commissioners; (4) relations between the European institutions and member states must be based on respect; (5) the issue of the Roma will be discussed at a future European Council. “No one is casting doubt on the fundamental rights and non-discrimination between citizens,” Van Rompuy said. Barroso reiterated his support for Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding: “the Commission is fulfilling its role as guardian of the Treaties. Discrimination is unacceptable. There must be respect and dignity in relations between the Commission and Council”.
The EU is seeking to pour oil on the troubled waters of the dispute over the policy with regard to the Roma. “It was a heated exchange between males,” said Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, while his Bulgarian counterpart spoke of a “violent exchange”. “Voices were raised so loudly that they could be heard at the far end of the corridor,” a European diplomat revealed.
Sarkozy: removal of Roma will continue. France “will continue to dismantle all illegal camps without distinction of origin or colour … in compliance with European law,” French President Nicolas Sarkozy indicated. In all, in 2010, more than 500 illegal camps have been razed, with 80% of their inhabitants French nationals, he said. There have been 199 Roma camps dismantled, affecting 5,400 persons, 355 (French) travellers' camps and 7 camps whose inhabitants were people of Vietnamese, Sudanese, Iranian and Iraqi origin. “These figures speak for themselves and demonstrate that there has been absolutely no discrimination or targeting,” Sarkozy stressed. France had been “deeply shocked” by Commissioner Reding's comments, which drew parallels between the deportations of the Second World War and the expulsions of the Roma from France, Sarkozy stated. He added: “My duty as head of state was to defend France”. He went on to describe Reding's comments as “insulting”, “hurtful”, “humiliating” and “outrageous”. “All heads of state and government were shocked by the outrageous comments made by Ms Reding. I do not wish to be drawn into an argument. Ms Reding has apologised for her extremely insulting comments. Let's leave things at that,” the French president said. He also stated that “France has acted and will continue to act in the strictest compliance with European law on free movement”, in particular Directive 2004/38/EC. “The Commission, and that is its role, has asked several questions. … We have answered them and we will continue to answer all questions”. He said in conclusion: “Let us look and see if the spirit of the Treaty has been respected. If it turns out that in transposing the directive, errors were made, we will, of course, correct them”.
Responding to a journalist who asked about the atmosphere over lunch, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said: “I said that the commissioner's comments were inappropriate, but that the Commission had to ensure that Community law was abided by and that the institutions had to show respect one for the other. The French president presented things as he saw them”. She was asked if, given the ferocity of Sarkozy's comments about Reding, the dispute was still alive and kicking. The Chancellor opined that the main thing was that “the debate took place and that conclusions were drawn. We have to get back to good cooperation”. She declined to make any comment on what either President Barroso or President Sarkozy had said. “Everything was said. It was a matter of saying who should do what between the Commission and the Council and how to work together”.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron took the view that “it's important that nations (act) when there are problems of immigration, but not based on ethnicity. The Commission has a role in enforcing Community law”.
Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker felt that the attacks by Nicolas Sarkozy on his country over the Roma issue “were not appropriate”. “From the moment they are appointed, commissioners cease to represent their countries,” Juncker pointed out. He did, however, concede that Reding had “gone too far” in her comments.
Romanian President Traian Basescu took the view that, as Romanian nationals, the Roma should enjoy the same right to freedom of movement as any other EU citizens. He nonetheless acknowledged that they should abide by the legislation of the country in which they take up residence. He said he was pleased with the agreement reached at the summit, admitting it was in Romania's interest to have, and that Romania needed, a strategy at European level.
According to Slovakian Prime Minister Iveta Radicova each state must act as it feels fit but the “European Commission has the right and even the obligation to ensure that such action is in line with EU law”. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said each European country has a more or less large Roma minority, and that “the situation of Poland is not easy”. This should not, however, be a pretext for attacking the Commission. Also, Poland considers that the remarks by Viviane Reding were out of place. (G.B./A.N./I.L./B.C./E.H./A.By./transl.rt/jl)