Those who had hoped the European Commission would resist the decision of the French, Italian Swedish and Danish governments to deport the Roma people were in for a disappointment.
Albeit the EU’s chief executive Barroso’s first “state of the union” address included a message to European leaders to steer clear of the racism and discrimination Europe has experienced in the past, the Romanis were not explicitly mentioned. Furthermore, Justice and Fundamental Rights Commissioner, Vivian Reding, did not follow through on the critical stance she and two other commissioners took last week, when she addressed the situation in a speech to the European Parliament.
“It is so important that French [immigration] minister Eric Besson assured us publicly that the French authorities would treat all citizens in the same way and that there was no targeted action against the Roma or any other group and that the French authorities would do their best to act scrupulously in line with EU law. I see this insurance given by Minister Besson as a very positive development,” said Reding.
Although heckled several times by MEP’s, Reding’s speech, coupled with Barroso’s watered-down criticism of the Roma question, would seem to indicate that the EU’s executive branch is ready to accept the situation.
The European Commission – tasked with upholding the laws of the EU – does not seem willing to challenge the legality of the deportation of EU citizens, at least not until commission legal experts examine the issue. As of present, criticism is mainly left to the European Parliament.
“France’s actions are illegal – pure and simple. It is a sad indictment of this commission that it has failed to stand up for the rule of law in the face of a large EU member state. President Sarkozy must be made accountable for this racist policy. The European commission should be using all the tools available to bring France into line with EU law,” said Labour MEP Claude Moraes. Moares is referring to the right of EU citizens to move freely among EU states and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights which forbids discrimination on the grounds of ethnicity.
The French argue that the transitional agreement for Bulgaria and Romania (where most of the Romanis are citizens) provide the authorities with the legal grounds to expel people from these countries – if they after three months cannot show they have financial means to stay in the country. The transitional agreement stands until 2014.
Regardless of the transitional agreement, two Romanis, in complete abidance with the law, were escorted to the Belgium border where they crossed and immediately turned around and reentered France under the watchful eye of a French official. Surely there is a disconnect between the expulsion of unwanted Romanis and the freedom of movement within the EU?
Be this as it may, the Parliament adopted a resolution declaring the expulsion of Romanis illegal under EU law, amounting to discrimination on the basis of race. The resolution, backed by the left, liberals and Greens and opposed by the right of the house, was passed in a 337 to 245 vote, with 51 abstentions.
Albeit the Parliament has now power to enforce the resolution, the move carries some symbolic value. The Strasbourg based parliament has in effect slapped its’ host in the face. The French have nevertheless already said they will ignore the nonbinding resolution. And what about Roma expulsions when the transitional agreement in 2014 arrives? Perhaps the Roma will be forgotten. Some say the whole affair is a ploy to distract the French public from allegations illegal political financing.
