Brussels, 11/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament calls on the Italian authorities to refrain from collecting fingerprints from Roma people, including children, saying this is an act of discrimination banned by the European Convention of Human Rights. On Thursday 10 July, the European Parliament adopted by 336 votes to 220 and 77 abstentions a resolution proposed by the PES, ALDE, Greens/EFA and GUE/NGL Groups , as a response to the coercive measures used by the Italian government to combat delinquency imputed to the Roma. “This is a fine victory, a powerful sign sent to the Italian government and to all those who think they can return to unacceptable and discriminatory practices in the name of security”, said Monica Frassoni (Greens, Italy) after the vote. MEPs voiced concern at the Italian affirmation that a 12-month “state of emergency” could be justified by the presence of Romani camps around large towns and cities. Over 700 camps, where tens of thousands of Roma live, have been built, mainly around the Italian capital, Milan and Naples. Finally, the Parliament invites the Commission to examine measures defined by the Italian government in order to verify whether they are in line with Community law. The commissioner for justice, freedom and security, Jacques Barrot, explained that the Commission showed the necessary vigilance for dealing with this matter in full transparency and in compliance with Community law. The Italian government has undertaken to provide a report by the end of July, he said. A little earlier this week, the chairman of the European Parliament committee on civil liberties, Gérard Deprez (ALDE) of Belgium, said that the Italian interior minister, Roberto Maroni, had agreed to allow a European Parliament delegation go to Italy to assess the situation. (B.C./transl.jl)