EU body calls France's Gypsy expulsions 'disgrace'

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union's executive body labeled France's expulsions of Gypsies "a disgrace" Tuesday and said the deportations probably breach European Union law.

EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding said she was appalled by the expulsions.

"I am personally convinced that the commission will have no choice but to initiate infringement procedures against France" for discriminatory policies, she said.

France's deportation of more than 1,000 Gypsies, also known as Roma, mainly to Romania, has drawn international condemnation in recent weeks. Officials in France have dismantled over 100 illegal camps.

Reding harshly criticized French authorities for telling the EU commission it was not discriminating against Gypsies — a claim apparently contradicted by news reports of a government letter ordering regional officials to speed up a crackdown on illegal camps of Gypsies.

"It is my deepest regret that political assurances given by two French ministers is now openly contradicted," Reding said, referring to the letter.

"The role of the commissioners as guardians of the treaties is made extremely difficult if we can no longer have confidence in the assurances given by two ministers in a formal meeting with two commissioners and around 15 senior officials on the table from both sides."

She was speaking about France's immigration minister, Eric Besson, and its European affairs minister Pierre Lellouche. Besson denied any knowledge of the reported Interior Ministry letter.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2010 ... ions_N.htm