MEPs press Italy over Roma situation

European parliament deputies have called on Italy to resolve the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the Roma population.

In particular, MEPs wanted answers from the Italian authorities regarding recent attacks against Roma in Italy, and specifically about the case of twelve missing Roma children.

“We have asked the Italian authorities to inform us about these children. We are still waiting for an official explanation on the purpose of the police raids taking place on the camps during the night. We would like also an official response as to whether the police have carried out investigations into the causes of all the camp-fires?” said Hungarian ALDE deputy Viktoria Mohácsi.

“We would [also] like to know whether the Italian authorities intend to solve the problems of the stateless Roma residing in Italy without documents,” she added.

Another ALDE deputy, Italian Marco Cappato, stressed the need to tackle the situation of the Roma in Italy, as well as criticising the Berlusconi government for heightening tensions surrounding the issue.

“The so called 'Roma emergency' has not been determined only by the Berlusconi government, but it is also due to the lack of an adequate migration policy, in general, but also particularly with regard to the Roma,” he said.

“The new centre-right majority is responsible for having fuelled tensions and prejudices which have now to be tackled,” he added.

Italy's president, Silvio Berlusconi, on Wednesday backtracked over controversial plans to make illegal immigration a jailable offence.

"Personally, I don't think you can prosecute someone for their illegal presence in our country, but their status should be considered an aggravating circumstance if they commit a crime," he said.

Meanwhile, deputies from the PES party are to hold talks with senior Italian politicians in Naples next week to address the problem of hostility to Roma people in the region.

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