EP Calls On France, Other EU Member States To “Immediately Suspend” Roma Expulsions

The resolution, presented by Socialists and Democrats, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), the Greens/EFA, and the Confederal Group of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL groups), received 337 votes in favor and 245 against.

The EP expressed "deep concern" at recent measures taken by the French authorities and other EU member states, and argued on Thursday that mass expulsions of Roma people violate EU law as they amount to discrimination on the basis of race. MEPs called on policymakers to avoid "inflammatory rhetoric" and also criticized the Council and Commission's lack of commitment on the issue.

The EP "rejects 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 argue that fingerprinting the Roma is illegal and violates the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

EU legislation on free movement stipulates that "the lack of economic means can in no circumstances justify the automatic expulsion of EU citizens". Restrictions on freedom of movement can be imposed "solely on the basis of personal conduct, and not of general considerations of prevention or ethnic or national origin." Moreover, say MEPs, expulsion decisions must be assessed and decided on an individual basis, taking into consideration personal circumstances and guaranteeing procedural safeguards and redress.

The EP also said it regrets the "late and limited response" by the European Commission as guardian of the treaties to the need to verify the consistency of Member States' actions with EU law. The Commission should "stand firmly behind the values and principles enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the Treaties" and "respond promptly with a full analysis of the situation in France and in all the Member States", the EP also states.

According to the EP, the situation of the Roma in Europe "can in no way affect the forthcoming accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area, nor the rights of their citizens".

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