Sarkozy wants to deport the Romi from France

[fyrOM]

What did they think would happen with the free movement of people but in this case were they not illegals.

[Risto the Great]

By the way, feel free to write a letter to EU Justice explaining the Macedonian perspective if you get bored:

http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/justice/index_en.htm

[Risto the Great]

Here we go .... some noise:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11301307

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.

It deported nearly 230 Roma on Tuesday alone, flying them to Romania from Paris and Marseille.

Nearly 160 were flown out of the French capital to Bucharest, and 69 out of Marseille, AFP news agency reports.

All had agreed to be repatriated in exchange for cash payments of about 330 euros ($423, £274) per adult and 100 euros per child.

More than 1,000 people have been deported to Romania and Bulgaria since late July, when President Nicolas Sarkozy linked illegal Roma camps to crimes such as prostitution and child exploitation.

Critics see the law-and-order crackdown as a way for Mr Sarkozy to boost his flagging popularity amid discontent over government cutbacks.

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. It also insists that most of them are voluntary.
Court case?

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.

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.

"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.

[Coolski]

I like it Coolski.
In fact, why nor write a report on the EU instead of the member countries. We should write about what rules they have allowed to "slide" in the last 12 months. Ignoring the Maastricht Treaty to bail out Greece is one great example.

Yeah true RtG.. The entire EU should be implicated, but the Macedonian Commission should make special members of troublesome groups that halt progress.

[Onur]

Onur, I thought Catalonia banned the Bull Fighting??

Yes they did a week ago but maybe they saw this as an opportunity to indicate their difference than the rest of Spaniards. I believe this was also a decisive factor on that as well as the animal rights.

[Prolet]

Onur, I thought Catalonia banned the Bull Fighting??

Risto, Gjorgjija Atanasovski recently said in a press conference that Macedonia has a better human rights history then Nato and EU so i think you have a point there.

[Onur]

They also monopolize all the credit and report commissaries themselves. Probably you noticed that Greece had "A+" credit rating just before few weeks of their bail out announcement. Only then they reduced their credit rating. Thats why, Chinia announced few weeks ago that they don't trust EU and USA credit rating councils and they will form their own independent rating council.

It`s also same for human and animal rights groups. For example, did you see any human right council who condemns USA for executing people with gunshots for death sentence??? No you cant..

OR did you see Greenpeace to protest any USA based or French company for all the harm they done to the nature? No you cant but you can see their endless protestations towards 3rd world countries.

OR you can see massive protestations vs Japan for killing dolphins but you rarely or never see protestations vs Canada for killing 100.000s of sea calfs or Spain for killing bulls for fun.

I am against all of these crimes but there are double-standards again.

[Risto the Great]

I like it Coolski.
In fact, why nor write a report on the EU instead of the member countries. We should write about what rules they have allowed to "slide" in the last 12 months. Ignoring the Maastricht Treaty to bail out Greece is one great example.

[Coolski]

I think the Macedonian government should conduct yearly reports of the human rights progress in France, Greece and Germany and send it to them each year, concluding their progress in required reforms in their attempt to reach minimum levels of human rights or even approaching the rights of Macedonia. It could be called the Macedonian Commission. Of course, the reports would never be positive.

[Prolet]

Well you only have to look at Greece and Bulgaria who have both signed the Minority Rights Convention yet both countries openly state that they dont have minorities there.

[Frank]

It is the double standard the angers others

[El Bre]

I do not object to that but the problem is, these kind of rules are only valid for western europeans.

What happens if Turkey expels 100s of Kurds back to Iraq today or what if ROM expels 100s of Albanians to Kosovo? French would say "they have a right to expel them"??? OR do they condemn us?

Thats the problem, the double-standards...

It sure does seem that way, doesn't it?

[Onur]

If you're not going to contribute positively to your adopted country, then that country should have every right to ask you to leave.

I do not object to that but the problem is, these kind of rules are only valid for western europeans.

What happens if Turkey expels 100s of Kurds back to Iraq today or what if ROM expels 100s of Albanians to Kosovo? French would say "they have a right to expel them"??? OR do they condemn us?

Thats the problem, the double-standards...

[El Bre]

If you're not going to contribute positively to your adopted country, then that country should have every right to ask you to leave.

[fyrOM]

Hehehehahaha go the eu. Human rights multiculturalism equality. Wonderful principles when in small doses but…..