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France to Deport 850 Roma to Romania as Sarkozy Targets Squatters Camps
France has dismantled 88 squatters’ camps, bringing to 850 the number of Roma being deported under a crackdown by President Nicolas Sarkozy, Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux said.
About 200 Roma, popularly known as gypsies, have already been returned to Romania this month, according to the Interior Ministry. France flew them back to Bucharest and provided 300 euros ($382) per adult.
“I will continue my work with determination and even stubbornness,” Hortefeux said today on Europe 1 radio. ’’I will ask Romanian authorities to help us in this effort,’’ he said before a planned meeting today with his Romanian counterpart.
Pope Benedict XVI called French pilgrims yesterday to welcome people of all origins and French Catholic leaders also criticized Sarkozy’s policy. The European Commission said last week it was monitoring the situation to ensure France complies with a 2004 European Union directive on freedom of movement within the 27-nation bloc. Romania is a member of the EU.
“We act according to the rules,” Hortefeux said.
The French foreign ministry says that it distinguishes between itinerant workers and Roma who number about 15,000 in France and are recent arrivals from Bulgaria and Romania.
To contact the reporter on this story: Helene Fouquet in Paris at hfouquet1@bloomberg.net
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