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 today.
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 and regrets the "late and limited reaction" by the European Commission on the matter.
Matthew Newman, spokesperson for Justice and Fundamental Rights Commissioner Viviane Reding, said the EU executive was "still investigating" whether France's Roma expulsions contravened EU law on the free circulation of persons.
The French delegation of the EPP in Parliament said it regretted the vote and accused the socialists, liberals, Greens and leftists of fuelling "a totally sterile political polemic" by supporting the motion.
"The EPP group has unfortunately been unable to make its constructive position prevail," the French delegation said, arguing that its own resolution had suggested "measures to improve the daily lives of Roma".
The Greens, who supported the motion, said the Parliament resolution sent a "strong signal" that "deportations" of Roma to Romania and Bulgaria must be brought to an end. Hélène Flautre MEP (Greens; France) said the evictions were "a crucial test for Europe in its ability to meet its own human rights commitments, as enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights".
"It is the Commission's responsibility to take appropriate action, starting by finalising its report as soon as possible," Flautre said.
MEPs Marie-Christine Vergiat (France) and Cornelia Ernst (Germany) of the leftist GUE/NGL group accused the European Commission of failing to defend the freedom of Bulgarian and Romanian citizens to circulate freely inside the EU.
"The Commission kept quiet during the talks, strictly adhering to statements by the French authorities. However, for the GUE/NGL there is no doubt that the Treaties and EU law have been violated," the two MEPs said.
"Infringement proceedings must be initiated. The free movement of persons must not take second place to the free movement of capital and goods."
