Brussels, 13/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - On behalf of the College of Commissioners, European Financial Services and Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier has welcomed the assurances France has promised to give on the Roma, following the disquiet expressed by the Commission. He said that France might escape an infringement procedure that could see it referred to the EU Court of Justice.
In response to a question from a journalist on Wednesday 13 October on French Immigration Minister Eric Besson's announcement of a law change in France, Barnier said: “That's quite good news, is it not. It's good, I feel, that the French minister responsible has confirmed that France wants to deliver serious and thorough responses, within the time set, that is, in the next few days, to the issue of non-discrimination and the assurance that France, like other countries, has transposed the 2004 directive. I am confident that France will implement its commitments and that my colleagues will take the appropriate decision in the light of the answers provided”. The commissioner thus hinted that the Commission might not open an infringement procedure against France for incorrect transposition of the 2004 directive as it had threatened to do on 29 September (see EUROPE 10231). (G.B./M.B./transl.rt)