EU may take legal action against France over Roma

[malaise]

Good

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11301307
<snip>
EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding has urged the European Commission to take legal action against France over its deportations of Roma (Gypsies).

Ms Reding called French actions a "disgrace". She deplored the fact that a leaked official memo contradicted assurances given to her by France.

France voiced "astonishment" in response to her statement on Tuesday.

It deported nearly 230 Roma on Tuesday alone, flying them to Romania from Paris and Marseille.

This is not a minor offence... After 11 years of experience in the Commission, I even go further: this is a disgrace”

End Quote Viviane Reding EU Justice Commissioner

Nearly 160 were flown out of the French capital to Bucharest, and 69 out of Marseille, AFP news agency reports.

All had agreed to be repatriated in exchange for cash payments of about 330 euros ($423, £274) per adult and 100 euros per child.

More than 1,000 people have been deported to Romania and Bulgaria since late July, when President Nicolas Sarkozy linked illegal Roma camps to crimes such as prostitution and child exploitation.

[virgogal]

1. They were offered payment to leave and they agreed to this

offer.

A very strange situation IMHO.