By Martin Banks - 9th September 2010
I condemned very clearly the rhetoric which has been utilised
Viviane Reding
MEPs have condemned the actions of the French government, hitting out at "inflammatory and openly discriminatory rhetoric" following its recent deportations of Roma people.
Parliament adopted a particularly robust response after a heated voting session in Strasbourg on Thursday.
It adopted a damning resolution that not only criticises France's mass deportations of Roma people but also hits out at the commission for its "late and limited response" to the current crisis.
The resolution was backed by 337 deputies with 245 voting against, including the EPP, parliament’s biggest group.
It says parliament regrets the "late and limited response" by the commission, saying the executive should "stand firmly behind the values enshrined in the EU treaties".
The resolution was pushed through by an alliance of Social Democrat, Green, Liberal and far-Left MEPs in the face of opposition by parliament's centre-right majority.
The EPP, which includes French president Nicolas Sarkozy's UMP, had been fighting to stop the parliament from directly criticising the French government by proposing a different text that was also critical but stopped short of mentioning France by name.
A commission spokesman strongly refuted the criticism, telling this website that EU justice commissioner Viviane Reding had "made our position perfectly clear" in her address to MEPs during a debate on the Roma issue on Wednesday.
In her speech, Reding said, "Like you I condemned very clearly the rhetoric which has been utilised, not only in France, but in many other member states too. Like you I believe that freedom of movement is one of the basic freedoms of our EU. The whole commission supports this."
Reding added, "At the same time, our legal services are continuing to analyse what the facts are on the ground, because we cannot just declare war on a member state. These are rules for analysing what a member state has done, and I told you very clearly that this analysis has not yet finished."
UK Socialist MEP Claude Moraes welcomed the outcome, saying, "This is an extraordinary condemnation of Sarkozy and his government.
"It is highly unusual for parliament to criticise an individual member state in this way, let alone a large founding member of the EU.
"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."
He added, "This places the commission under renewed pressure to begin 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.
"Reding could have and should have gone further in putting pressure on France to bring its actions into line with EU law. She needs to take today's resolution as a clear indication that parliament will not let this rest."
ALDE group leader Guy Verhofstadt said, "What's taking place in France is unacceptable, and unfortunately is not an isolated case. Several governments while confronted with the difficulties of the economic crisis, are sliding towards populism, xenophobia, and racism.
"The Roma are European citizens. In a world full of uncertainties, Europe must remain more then ever the continent of liberty, tolerance, and justice. The commission, the guardian of the treaties, must react without any hesitation. It is not its right but its institutional duty."
S&D deputy leader Hannes Swoboda said parliament had "reinstated the EU fundamental opposition to xenophobia and violation of citizens' rights which over the last months have been shaken by some member states' rightist policies on Roma and the commission's weak reaction".
French S&D MEP Sylvie Guillame, a member of the committee on civil liberties, justice and home affairs, agreed, saying, "Sarkozy has falsely believed that he could trample on the European rules and the EU charter of fundamental rights with impunity but parliament has just strongly called him to order."
Greens MEP Helene Flautre described the resolution as “an important step for the credibility of our institution".
But she added, "The battle for the rights of minorities has not reached its end, and is far from it. The rights of minorities must be truly fully recognised at a European level.
"This touches upon rights of residence, access to schooling, health, the labour market, housing, political representation and freedom of movement. We expect the commission and member states to commit themselves now to the practical implementation of a European strategy for Roma inclusion."
GUE MEP Marie-Christine Vergiat said Sarkozy's "populism has horrendously exploited a population for electoral purposes".
She added, "The commission kept quiet during the talks, strictly adhering to statements by French authorities. However, there is no doubt that the treaties and EU law have been violated. The commission must be as strict on fundamental rights as on economic issues.
"Infringement proceedings must be initiated. The free movement of persons must not take second place to the free movement of capital and goods."
However, EPP deputy Simon Busuttil, who drafted his party's resolution on the Roma, countered criticism of the commission and his group, which voted against the resolution.
He said, "Pointing fingers at France and the commission as the Left has done in this resolution does not, unfortunately, address the real challenges of improving the living conditions, education, healthcare and other basic needs of the Roma people.
"All the way through this process, the EPP group has stood for a constructive approach to tackling the many deep-rooted problems for the Roma people in Europe where a comprehensive EU Roma strategy would be the first element."
His comments were echoed by EPP deputy leader Manfred Weber, who said, "EU law contains both rights and obligations. Those rules are clear.
"For instance, for stays longer than three months, one must be employed or self-employed or otherwise have sufficient resources so as not to become a financial burden. Likewise, free movement can be restricted on the grounds of public security and public order.
"Conditions for expulsions are also envisaged, provided they are justified on a case-by-case basis. Of course, all EU rules in this area must be applied to the letter."
The EPP, meanwhile, has decided to create an internal working group, chaired by Hungarian deputy Lívia Járóka, the only elected Roma MEP.
She said, "It is my clear ambition to start working immediately and to put forward specific policy recommendations with my colleagues in order to promote the institutional establishment of an EU level strategy for the economic and social inclusion of Roma."
