Brussels, 16/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 14 April, the European Commission affirmed that it had taken “several measures” to ensure that all Union citizens, including Romanian nationals benefited from all rights guaranteed under Community legislation. This was the response provided by European Commissioner for Justice Jacques Barrot, to several Romanian socialist parliamentarians - Daciana Sarbu, Ioan Mircea Pascu, Corina Cretu and Alin Antochi - who sent the Commission a written question in February requesting information about its plans to prevent discrimination against Romanians in Italy. On 10 December 2008, the Commission adopted a report on implementation of directive 2004/38/EC on the free movement of EU citizens. In his letter, Mr Barrot points out that this report indicates what measures ought to be taken by member states to correctly transpose the directive. Following a request from the Commission, the Italian government published guidelines to ensure that identification of people living in the traveller camps respected European data protection standards. The vice president then sent the Italian authorities a letter explaining that these guidelines do not authorise the collation of data on the basis of ethnicity or religious denomination or the unrestricted taking of finger prints. On 25 February, the Commission received a report from the Italian authorities on identification action and the collation of data in camps on the outskirts of Rome. The commissioner affirmed that this report is currently being examined by the Commission. Mr Barrot pointed out that in connection with the “security package” originally proposed by the Italian government and after comments by the Commission, a draft decree amending Italian legislation transposing directive 2004/38 was withdrawn by the Italian authorities. With regard to the automatic expulsion of European citizens in aggravated circumstances involving illegal residency, the Italian parliament is currently reviewing the amendments that may help legislation to respect Community law. Mr Barrrot concluded that “the Commission will ensure that the legislation adopted by member states does not impair the rights Community law confers upon European citizens, including the right of residence, and the right to freedom of movement as foreseen in directive 2004/38 as well as fundamental freedoms.” (B.C./transl.rh)