Staff editorial: France's expulsion of the Roma is racist

Tempers flared at a recent European Union summit when French President Nicolas Sarkozy argued with President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso about France’s continuing deportation of Roma migrants.

Sarkozy took special umbrage to E.U. Justice Commissioner Vivian Reding’s lamentation that “this is a situation I had thought Europe would not have to witness again after the Second World War.”

While it is true that Word War II comparisons are often trite and exaggerated, we feel that Reding’s comments are appropriate to the situation.

On the defensive, Sarkozy calls her words “disgusting and shameful.”

Shameful?

It is shameful that France — according to a leaked official circular — is targeting the Roma, a specific ethnic group, to deport. It is disgusting and shameful action that is not only morally repugnant but also illegal under E.U. law.

About 500,000 Roma in France are French nationals, 100,000 of whom travel and about 10,000 are migrants from poorer regions.

The latter are allowed to move freely throughout the union and remain in any one place for three months, after which they must have obtained a job or be paying into a social security system. according to E.U. law.

Supposedly, Sarkozy is going after the illegal camps (although, as the leak reveals, this is based on ethnicity), but many of the ostensibly illegal camps to be bulldozed are comprised wholly of French citizens, as discovered by visiting Canadian Parliament Member Ujjal Dosanjh.

Few dare to challenge France, an influential founding member of the E.U., but Reding still intends to take France to court for its racially based deportations.

Sarkozy has also attempted to remove some Roma by offering them 300 euros, about $392, to leave voluntarily.  And yet, these deportations are not only illegal, they are ineffective. As one tittering Romanian official said, “They are just giving the Roma a paid vacation.” As soon as they leave, they turn back around.    

Where else are they to go?

Roma populations are rejected nearly everywhere and treated based on stereotypes of criminality and uncleanliness: Roma children are often pushed into classes for the mentally handicapped and Roma women are placed in separate maternity wards.

Roma culture does contribute to this problem.

Experts say education is often considered of little value, but little education combined with lack of skills has made it difficult for many Roma to find jobs.

Eric Besson, the French minister of Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Mutually-Supportive Development, asserts that Romania should spend more on integration.

Perhaps, but France should consider this option as well.

Instead of shipping Roma out, which is a short-term solution if a solution at all, France should follow the lead of Spain, where the majority of migrating Roma have settled. Instead of deporting them, Spain formed a program to invest in education, health and lodging for Roma women.