The ongoing conflict between Romania and Italy over the crackdown on Roma camps in the peninsula prompted the Socialist Group in the European Parliament (PES) to request that the item be included on the agenda of the plenary session today (20 May).
PES leader Martin Schultz added that the debate should be enlarged to include the general situation of Roma across Europe. The Socialists have also asked the Commision to inform Parliament of ongoing efforts to improve the living conditions of Roma and its plans to dealing with the issues affecting them.
The centre-right EPP-ED Group reacted negatively to the proposal, stating that such a debate should rather take place in the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee. But with the support of the Green and Liberal (ALDE) political groups, the PES proposal was adopted by 106 votes in favour and 100 against.
Since the Berlusconi government took office earlier this month, Romania's opposition Social Democratic Party has spearheaded Bucharest's concern over the fate of Romanians in Italy and their "diabolisation". Romania fears that the new Italian government, with a Minister of the Interior from the anti-immigrant Northern League party, will engage in measures leading to a backlash against law-abiding Romanians.
Romanian authorities are also concerned about press reports of Berlusconi's plans to re-establish border controls for travellers from the EU's Schengen passport-free zone, as well as to make illegal immigration a crime punishable by up to four years in jail.
