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Deportation of Roma migrants from France

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The French Roma repatriation is a programme initiated in July 2010 by the Government of France to repatriate thousands of Romanian and Bulgarian Romani as part of a crackdown on illegal camps in the country.[1] Although Romani (sometimes referred to as Romani Gypsies[2]) have the right to enter France without a visa, due to their countries of origin being in the European Union, under French immigration rules they must have work or residency permits if they wish to stay longer than three months.[3]

Since July 2010, at least 51 illegal Roma camps have been demolished, and France has repatriated at least 1,230 east European Roma to their countries of origin.[4][1]

The policy has proved controversial in the European Union, with EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding stating in a September briefing that the European Commission may take legal action against the French government over the forced deportations, calling them "a disgrace".[5] The subsequent row over the comments was widely reported to have overshadowed an EU summit in September 2010.[6][1][7]

Background

On the night of 16 July 2010, local youths identified as Muslims rioted, after French police shot and killed Karim Boudouda, a 27-year-old man involved in an attempted robbery at the Uriage-les-Bains casino, Grenoble, near the border with Switzerland. Paralells were made by the media between this incident and a series of riots in 2005 following the police killing of two youths of immigrant backgrounds.[8] [9]

On July 19, French police shot and killed a 22-year-old French Roma accused of driving through a police check-point. In retaliation for the latter shooting, a group,later identified as 'travellers', attacked and pillaged the village of Saint-Aignan in central France.The local mayor described the disturbances as " a settling of scores between the travellers and the gendarmerie ". [10][3]

Although Romani have the right to enter France without a visa, due to their countries of origin being in the European Union, under French immigration rules they must have work or residency permits if they wish to stay longer than three months[3] On 30 July, the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, made a speech in Grenoble concerning the recent events, both there and at Saint-Aignan. He was reported as saying that 'he had asked the interior minister to "put an end to the wild squatting and camping of the Roma." As president, he said, (he) could not accept the fact that there were 539 illegal Roma camps in his country, and he promised that half of them would be gone within three months.[11] The office of the President stated that local unauthorised camps were "sources of illegal trafficking, of profoundly shocking living standards, of exploitation of children for begging, of prostitution and crime".[3] Der Spiegel deemed this to come amidst efforts by the President's allies aimed at "keeping the issue of domestic security high on the political agenda."[12]

Since July 2010, at least 51 Roma camps have been demolished, and France has deported at least 1,230 Roma, providing financial incentives and travel back to Romania and Bulgaria.[13][1]

International reaction

On 6 September, the president of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso gave a speech widely interpreted as a criticism of the French policy, warning EU governments to "steer clear of racism and xenophobia".[14] On the 9 September 2010 the European Parliament expressed deep concern at measures taken by the French authorities and criticised the European Council and European Commission's lack of commitment on the issue. In a resolution tabled by the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, The Greens–European Free Alliance and European United Left–Nordic Green Left groups and adopted by 337 votes to 245 with 51 abstentions the parliament said the Member States in question should immediately "suspend all expulsions of Roma".[15]

The parliament rejected any statements which link minorities and immigration with criminality and create discriminatory stereotypes as well as the inflammatory and openly discriminatory rhetoric lending credibility to racist statements and the actions of extreme right-wing groups". MEPs also argued that fingerprinting the Roma is illegal and violates the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.[15]

Later in the week, EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding called the deportations "a disgrace", stating in a briefing on 14 September 2010 that "This is a situation I had thought Europe would not have to witness again after the Second World War", and suggesting the European Commission may take legal action against France over the matter.[16]

Her strong response was in part due to a French denial of a leaked file dated 5 August, sent from the Interior Ministry to regional police chiefs, which included the instruction: "Three hundred camps or illegal settlements must be cleared within three months, Roma camps are a priority,"[17][1]

The dispute between the French government and the EU Commission was widely thought to have overshadowed the EU summit opening on 16 September.[18] Nicolas Sarkozy criticised Reding's remarks, saying "The disgusting and shameful words that were used - World War II, the evocation of the Jews - was something that shocked us deeply".[19] He also affirmed that his government would continue with its policy.[19] According to Bulgarian prime minister Boyko Borisov "There was a big argument — I could also say a scandal — between the president of the European Commission and the French president".[7] In response to Mr Sarkozy's suggestion that Viviane Reding's country of origin, Luxembourg, could accommodate the expelled Roma, its Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said he found the statement "malevolent".[20]

The German chancellor Angela Merkel was also quoted as saying "I found the tone and especially the historical comparisons unsuitable. And I hope we can find a better way."[18] At the meeting, Barroso distanced himself from Reding's comments, but affirmed that "The prohibition of discrimination based on racial and ethnic origin is one of the EU's fundamental principles."[18] Finland's foreign minister Alexander Stubb commented that the summit, which has an objective of presenting a unified foreign and economic policy, risks making the EU look hypocritical: "When we promote free trade, climate change and human rights around the world we need to have our own backyard in order."[18] Also at the summit, the French President stated that Germany too intended to initiate a programme of deporting Roma, a claim flatly denied by Germany.[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "French ministers fume after Reding rebuke over Roma". BBC. September 15, 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
  2. ^ "France, Germany in spat over illegal Gypsy camps". Associated Press. September 17, 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-17.
  3. ^ a b c d "Q&A: France Roma expulsions". BBC. September 15, 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
  4. ^ "France sends Roma Gypsies back to Romania". BBC. August 20, 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
  5. ^ "EU may take legal action against France over Roma". BBC News. 14 September 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  6. ^ Meade, Geoff (16 September 2010). "Sarkozy hits back over Roma expulsions". The Independent. Retrieved 2010-08-22. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ a b Bennhold, Katrin, and Castle, Steven (September 16, 2010). "Dispute Grows Over France's Removal of Roma Camps". New York Times. Retrieved September 18, 2010.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Mail On Sunday Reporter (18th July 2010). "France fears widespread rioting as youths rampage after police shoot robber". Mail Online. Associated Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 17 September 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ "Riots in French city after police shooting". Euronews. July 17, 2010.
  10. ^ "Troops patrol French village of Saint-Aignan after riot". BBC. July 19, 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
  11. ^ Fichtner, Ullrich (15/09/2010). "Sarkozy's War Against the Roma". Der Spiegel. Spiegel Online International. Retrieved 17 September 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ "France Begins Controversial Roma Deportations". Der Spiegel. 2010-08-19. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
  13. ^ "France sends Roma Gypsies back to Romania". BBC. August 20, 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
  14. ^ Ian Traynor, "Barroso makes veiled criticism of French anti-Gypsy campaign makes veiled criticism of French anti-Gypsy campaign", The Guardian, Tuesday 7 September 2010
  15. ^ a b Baptiste Chatain (9 September 2010). "France and other Member States must halt expulsions of Roma immediately". European Parliament. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
  16. ^ "EU vice president sees red and attacks France on Roma". BBC News. 14 September 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  17. ^ "EU may take legal action against France over Roma". BBC News. 14 September 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  18. ^ a b c d Haroon Siddique, "Roma expulsions by France overshadow EU summit opening" in The Guardian, 16 September 2010
  19. ^ a b "Sarkozy denounces EU commissioner's Roma remarks". BBC News. 16 September 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
  20. ^ "Luxembourg Says Sarkozy Roma Remark 'Malevolent'". Radio Free Europe - Radio Liberty. September 15, 2010. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
  21. ^ "Sarkozy, Merkel Feud Over Roma Remarks". Radio Free Europe - Radio Liberty. September 17, 2010. Retrieved 17 September 2010.

External links

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