France gets more time to justify Roma expulsions

29/09/10 15:54 CET

world news

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The European Commission has decided not to launch legal action against France over its
expulsion of Roma migrants but rather give Paris more time to prove the policy abides by EU law, according to EU diplomats.

But the diplomats have emphasised that the Commission will act if it remains unconvinced by France’s justifications. The Commission is responsible for seeing that EU rules are followed. The bloc’s justice commissioner, Viviane Reding, said this month she believed France had broken EU laws.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has vigorously defended the expulsions in the face of widespread
criticism from human rights groups.

Questions remain over France’s observance of EU rules on free movement of people and incorporating the EU law into its national legislation.

More about: France, Immigration, Roma

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