19 October 2010 – The European Commission today announced that it would no longer pursue an infringement procedure against France over its failure to implement the EU’s free movement directive through its moves to deport Roma from the country (1).

Keith Taylor and his fellow Green MEPs have expressed concern that the Commission could let France off the hook over its collective expulsion of the Roma community, and called on the Commission to launch an infringement procedure on the grounds of discrimination.

Keith Taylor, the Green Party’s MEP for the South East, said: “If the Commission simply backs down on the issue of collective Roma expulsions in France, it will be nothing short of moral cowardice. Increasing evidence shows that the French authorities were clearly targeting the Roma minority.

“The Commission should have launched infringement proceedings against France on the grounds of discrimination in the first place – not just on the basis of free movement legislation. Now that reports have emerged of French police using ethnic databases, the Commission cannot continue its policy of inaction.”

Keith concluded: “France is far from alone in pursuing discriminatory policies against the Roma minority, with other countries, like Italy, using ethnic databases and pursuing collective expulsions. The Commission, as the guardian of the European treaties, cannot turn a blind eye to these serious infringements.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

(1) Announcement by Viviane Reding available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/10/502&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en