France Sends Hundreds of Roma Back to Romania and Bulgaria
Text by Paul Ciocoiu for Southeast European Times*
French authorities allege Romania has spurred emigration of Roma by failing to integrate them, and some leaders have even called for cutting off EU funds until Bucharest does so. They have vowed to dismantle the nearly 300 Roma camps throughout France by October and repatriate the remaining Roma.
Officials in Bucharest say Roma integration is a pan-European responsibility, not solely a national one. Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi warned that mass expulsions encroach on the right to free travel and residence, and urged that each case be treated individually.
As the 371 Roma began arriving in Romania this week, the Geneva-based UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination expressed concern about the campaign and warned of growing racism and xenophobia.
Even some prominent voices in French President Nicolas Sarkozy's UMP party denounced what they called a "shocking policy" and argued that public safety -- the alleged reason for the deportations -- will not improve by repatriating the Roma. Other critics say the move is a springboard for Sarkozy's 2012 presidential campaign.
"Many Roma chose France as is their right to do so and Romania can't stop them. France will have to adopt them because in accepting the advantages of the right to free travel, also assumes the responsibilities that come with it," writes blogger Mircea Marin.
Roma, he continues, are "European citizens with all the legal rights, including the right to settle down wherever they see fit in any of the 27 EU member states". He concludes that "those who are guilty of breaking the law must be sanctioned, but not their families or others around them."
Others agree, to an extent. "It is a known fact that in western Romania we failed to integrate the Roma," writes Turnul de Veghe. He too argues Romania can't do anything if the Roma desire to emigrate but will be the first to applaud the success at integration that Romania did not attain.
"Those countries more adept at democracy have nothing left to do but integrate them," he concludes.
"The right to travel freely and work can't be interpreted as a Romanian right to live like nomads in France, to steal and beg and change the face of the European cities," counters Eugen Caliman. He argues Romanians should remember "the absence of any sort of Romania-initiated Roma integration programme".
Iulian speaks for many when he argues that the developed EU countries should provide an example of successful integration of disadvantaged populations. "The turn is for the powerful to help as the wound has to be healed, not hidden. Europe has to assume this," he writes.
*This text is courtesy of the Southeast European Times (SET), a web site sponsored by the US Department of Defense in support of UN Resolution 1244, designed to provide an international audience with a portal to a broad range of information about Southeastern Europe. It highlights movement toward greater regional stability and steps governments take toward integration into European institutions. SET also focuses on developments that hinder both terrorist activity and support for terrorism in the region.
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excellent smugs
