Mass expulsions of Roma people in France violate EU law and amount to discrimination on the basis of race, the Parliament said in a resolution passed in Strasbourg.
The resolution, adopted by 337 votes in favour and 245 against amid 51 abstentions, calls on France to immediately "suspend all expulsions of Roma" to EU member states Bulgaria and Romania.
"The lack of economic means can in no circumstances justify the automatic expulsion of EU citizens," the Parliament said, adding that EU legislation stipulates that 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".
The resolution says expulsion decisions must be assessed and decided on an individual basis, taking into consideration personal circumstances and guaranteeing procedural safeguards and redress.
'Late and timid' reaction from European Commission
The resolution, sponsored by the socialists, liberals, greens and leftist groups in Parliament, also regrets the "late and limited reaction" by the European Commission on the matter.
Matthew Newman, spokesperson for Justice and Fundamental Rights Commissioner Viviane Reding, told EurActiv that the EU executive was "still investigating" whether France's Roma expulsions contravened EU law on the free circulation of persons.
In a statement, French Immigration Minister Eric Besson denounced the "lies and caricatures that led to the adoption of this resolution". France, he said, "has taken no specific measure against the Roma," who are treated "like nationals of the countries from which they originate".
Each decision to repatriate Bulgarian and Romanian nationals was taken individually "under the scrutiny of a judge," Besson stressed. "France accepts that its nationals who stay [illegally] in other countries of the Union are sent back to her," he concluded.
