All major European countries plan mass expulsions of Roma or demolitions of Roma settlements. Rights groups warn that these measures entail the criminalisation of an entire ethnic group, and break EU law.
The French executive announced Jul. 29 that 300 illegal Roma camps would be demolished in the next three months. According to the President’s office, the camps are “sources of illegal trafficking, profoundly shocking living standards, exploitation of children for begging, prostitution and crime.”
By the end of this year, France is set to adopt legislation to expel undocumented Roma residing in the country, “for reasons of public order.”
Germany is set to deport 12,000 Roma back to Kosovo over the next years. Half of them are children and adolescents who grew up in Germany.
Sweden has this year deported 50 Roma from Eastern Europe for begging, even though begging is not a crime in this country. Denmark deported 23 Eastern European Roma in July. In Belgium, 700 Roma were forced to exit Flanders in July, and given only temporary shelter in Wallonia.
Previously: EU washes hands of French plans for Roma expulsions as tensions grow
The Roma from Romania (Bulgaria) do not have citizenship of France.
The war between France and the Roma started when the Roma attacked a police station. Additionally Sarkozy has some political problems and needs some distraction.
The article speaks about EU-citizens, but there is no such thing exactly. Citizenship is bound to an EU state. Additionally there are plenty of Russians without citizenship of any country in Estonia.
The right of stay in France is first bound to a job (or some other legal source of income). A prostitute is a more legal profession than a beggar in the EU.
In practice Bulgaria and Romania want to expel their Roma population and now Western European countries are sending them back.
There was a similar problem with other Eestern European countries earlier.
Bulgaria and Romania are not part of Schengen yet.
The article mentioned Irish travelers too, which are a nuisance too.
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euobserver, By Honor Mahoney, August 23
Italy has said it intends to expel citizens from other EU states if they are not able to support themselves, in a move apparently inspired by France’s current crackdown on Roma.
Interior Minister Roberto Maroni told daily newspaper Corriere della Sera on Saturday (21 August) that French president Nicolas Sarkozy – whose recent actions include closing down Roma camps and deporting around 200 Roma to date – is “right.”
The minister, from the anti-immigrant Northern League Party, said that “if anything, it’s time to go a step further” and referred to the mandatory expulsion of EU citizens who do not meet certain criteria.
“Yes, expulsions just like those for illegal immigrants, not assisted or voluntary repatriations. Of course only for those who violate rules on requirements for living in another member state: a minimum level of income, adequate housing and not being a burden on the social welfare system of the country hosting them.”
“Many Roma are EU citizens but do not respect any of these requirements,” he said. But added, when asked if this would be discriminatory, that the policy should apply to all EU citizens and not just Roma.
One owes respect to the living. To the dead, one owes only the truth.
LAT, By Devorah Lauter, September 4
Authorities say 77,000 protesters hit the streets in 130 towns across France in opposition to Sarkozy’s program to dismantle illegal Roma camps.
Paris — With the fast beat of Gypsy music rousing the crowd over loudspeakers, thousands marched in Paris and other cities Saturday to protest the French government’s deportations of Roma immigrants in the name of crime prevention.
Police said 77,000 protesters, led by left-leaning political parties and human rights organizations, hit the streets in 130 towns across France in opposition to President Nicolas Sarkozy’s program to dismantle illegal Roma camps. As part of his new security policy, nearly 1,000 Roma have been sent back to Bulgaria and Romania since the end of July.
In Paris, Jeannine Otte wore the first article of the French Constitution plastered across her body: “France assures equality under the law to all its citizens, without distinction of origin.”
“The president violated this article by saying that not all French people should be punished equally for the same crime,” Otte said. “It’s a very heavy message to send to society, and especially to poor youth.”
One owes respect to the living. To the dead, one owes only the truth.
Nicolas Sarkozy’s Roma crisis leaves his presidency still teetering on the brink
Nicolas Sarkozy hoped his plan to expel the Roma would help his faltering presidency back on track. But it has made him even more enemies.
The Telegraph, By Kim Willsher & Nick Meo, September 4
Paris – He is the French statesman who has strutted the world stage, glamorous model wife never far from his side, commanding international attention and respect like no other leader in Europe. At home he in turn dazzled and seduced his enemies, energised his supporters with his dynamic style and won new admirers with his deft steering of the ship of state.
Yet this year it has all started to go wrong for Nicolas Sarkozy. His store of political magic seemingly came to an end and his popularity ratings have slid with the same grim inevitabilty as France’s dire economic performance. Scandals have dogged him, and a huge political battle looms over pension reform.
His response has been to lurch rightwards with a crackdown on crime which has delighted his core supporters.
Amid howls of protest the president has ordered the deportation of Roma and declared that foreign-born criminals may be stripped of French citizenship.
But the political cost has been high. Now, as France goes back to work from the long summer holiday, Mr Sarkozy’s political problems are piling up – and there is more trouble on the political horizon than the Roma issue.
One owes respect to the living. To the dead, one owes only the truth.
RFI, September 4
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across France Saturday to protest the French government’s security policy and recent expulsions of Roma gypsies. A collective of political parties and trade unions urged the public to stand up against “xenophobia” and “the politics of pillory”.
Demonstrations took place in 140 French cities and towns, with left-wing politicians, union representatives and celebrities participating in 130 events.
In Paris, the procession was symbolically opened by the Roma themselves.
Arriving on board a double decker bus, artists and singers, including Jane Birkin, Jeanne Cherhal and director Agnes Jaoui sang Les P’tits Papiers.
[...]
The largest turnout outside Paris was in Angers, where 2,000 people gathered. Meanwhile Saint-Brieuc and Brest saw 1,000 marchers, while in Lorient there was a showing of 800.
One owes respect to the living. To the dead, one owes only the truth.
BBC, September 4
Thousands of people have attended rallies in Paris and 130 other French towns to protest at the government’s policy of deporting Roma people.
Police say turnout across France was slightly more than 77,000 while organisers put the figure nearer 100,000.
With polls suggesting at least 65% of French people back the policy, the government played down the protests.
[...]
Cities such as Marseilles and Nantes saw similar marches, and there were solidarity rallies in neighbouring countries like Spain and Belgium, as well as more distant states with significant Roma minorities such as Hungary and Serbia.
One owes respect to the living. To the dead, one owes only the truth.
BBC, September 10
France will not stop deporting Roma (Gypsy) people, French Immigration Minister Eric Besson has said on a visit to Romania.
Reacting to the European Parliament’s call for deportations to be halted, he said France would work to help Roma integration within Romania.
Romania will draw up integration plans and will send extra police to Paris to help curb crime committed by Romanians.
France has promised money to help Roma return to Romania.
About 1,000 Roma have been deported from France in recent weeks.
[...]
European MPs urged France to suspend immediately its deportations on Thursday.
Their toughly worded resolution, passed by 337 votes to 245, said that mass expulsions amounted to “discrimination on the basis of race and ethnicity”.
[...]
However, Mr Besson said there was “no question” of Paris complying with the resolution.
“We are not going to submit to a political diktat,” he said.
One owes respect to the living. To the dead, one owes only the truth.
WAZ.euobserver.com, By Augustin Palokaj, October 28
Human Rights Watch (HRW) is the latest international organisation to call for a halt to what it describes as the forced deportation of Roma back to Kosovo.
In a report to be made public on Thursday (28 October), HRW argues that on returning to Kosovo, members of ethnic minorities (the report refers to Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians or RAE) face discrimination, lack of proper healthcare, difficulties in integrating into society and a lack of education for their children.
The international NGO is asking all western European countries to stop sending Roma back to Kosovo until they can ensure that conditions for their integration there have improved. Its report suggests that over the last ten years around 50,000 Roma have been forced to return to Kosovo against their will.
One owes respect to the living. To the dead, one owes only the truth.