EU Commissioner Reding said her patience was wearing thin
EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding has urged the European Commission to take legal action against France over its deportations of Roma (Gypsies).
Ms Reding called French actions a “disgrace”. She deplored the fact that a leaked official memo contradicted assurances given to her by France.
France voiced “astonishment” in response to her statement on Tuesday.
France’s deportations of more than 1,000 Roma, to Bulgaria and Romania, have been widely condemned.
“This is not a minor offence… After 11 years of experience in the Commission, I even go further: this is a disgrace”
Viviane Reding EU Justice Commissioner
The deportations began in early August, after French President Nicolas Sarkozy linked illegal Roma camps with crimes such as prostitution and child exploitation.
The BBC’s Oana Lungescu in Brussels says Ms Reding’s rebuke amounted to incredibly strong language from a European commissioner about a big member state.
EU disciplinary action against France could lead to substantial fines.
France denies that the expulsions target an ethnic group, saying they are done on a case-by-case basis.
Last week Euro MPs accused the Commission of failing to protect the Roma deported from France.
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Ms Reding said she would propose legal proceedings by the Commission over France’s treatment of the Roma and that a Commission decision would be taken within two weeks.
France has dismantled many illegal Roma camps in recent weeks The case would then go before the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, she said.
France is accused of violating EU law, which bans discrimination against any ethnic group or nationality.
“I am personally convinced that the Commission will have no choice but to initiate infringement proceedings against France,” Ms Reding said.
“The role of the Commission as guardian 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,” she said.
“This is not a minor offence in a situation of this importance. After 11 years of experience in the Commission, I even go further: this is a disgrace,” she said.
Recently French Immigration Minister Eric Besson and Minister for Europe Pierre Lellouche briefed Ms Reding on France’s handling of the Roma issue.
On Monday the French press published a leaked French official memo suggesting the Roma had been specifically targeted by the authorities.
The memo contradicted assurances to EU officials from Mr Besson and Mr Lellouche that immigrants were being treated on a case-by-case basis.
The order, dated 5 August, was sent from the interior ministry to regional police chiefs.
A leaked circular called for 300 camps or illegal settlements to be cleared within three months “Three hundred camps or illegal settlements must be cleared within three months, Roma camps are a priority,” it said.
Mr Besson told France 2 television on Monday that he was “not aware of this circular”.
Last week the European Parliament urged the French government to halt the deportations – a call rejected by Paris.
On Monday Mr Lellouche told the BBC he was “sick and tired” of the criticism directed at France over the Roma.
French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero called Ms Reding’s statement unhelpful on Tuesday.
“We don’t think that with this type of statement, that we can improve the situation of the Roma, who are at the heart of our concerns and our action,” he said.
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