A resolution passed by 337 to 245 in Strasbourg attacked the “inflammatory and openly discriminatory rhetoric” of the French Government about the mass deportation programme, and also criticised a “late and limited” response by the European Commission.
Three days ago MEPs lashed out at European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso for failing to condemn France by name over the issue when he delivered a “State of the Union” address in Strasbourg.
Yesterday’s vote backed a resolution expressing deep concern “at the measures taken by the French authorities ... targeting Roma and travellers and providing for their expulsion”.
The resolution says the European Parliament is particularly concerned about “the inflammatory and openly discriminatory rhetoric that has characterised political discourse during the repatriations of Roma, lending credibility to racist statements and the actions of extreme right-wing groups”.
And the commission came under fire, accused of failing to uphold respect by EU governments for basic EU rights of non-discrimination and freedom of movement.
Labour MEP Claude Moraes, who led negotiations on the resolution, said: “This is an extraordinary condemnation of President Sarkozy and his government.
“It is highly unusual for the European Parliament to criticise an individual member state in this way, let alone a large founding member of the EU.”
He added: “This will further add to the political woes of a president who has so little support that he is unable to even muster the support of a parliament with a right-wing majority.”
Mr Moraes said the vote put pressure on the European Commission to launch legal action against the French authorities “for failing to respect the rule of law in the way it has been targeting the Roma as an ethnic group”.
Centre-right MEPs had tried to stop the parliament from directly criticising the French authorities, but Mr Moraes said: “Even within Sarkozy’s own political family there is much unease, so while the parliament’s centre-right wanted to save face by avoiding direct criticism, I know that many (centre-right MEPs) have grave concerns about the hate being stirred up by Sarkozy’s actions.”
According to the European Commission, the Roma is the EU’s largest ethnic minority, and traces its origins to medieval India. There are many Roma subgroups living in Europe, including an estimated 15,000 in France.
French Immigration Minister Eric Besson, in Bucharest for talks with Romanian officials on the topic, insisted there was no specific targeting of Roma and there were no collective expulsions by France, except for putting them all together on planes going home.
“France will continue to repatriate illegal foreigners to their country or origin, those that don’t have residency papers,” he said.
