MEPs round on France's Roma policy
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Socialist members of the European Parliament today savaged France's continuing repatriation of hundreds of Roma people to Bulgaria and Romania, but despite the mounting criticism Paris today flew nearly three hundred more men, women and children back to Bucharest.
The European parliament's second largest faction has accused Paris of violating EU laws on freedom of movement.
Martin Schulz, head of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, today issued a statement describing France's treatment of the Roma as "appalling".
Echoing criticism coming from human rights NGOs and the Vatican, Mr Schulz accused French President Nicolas Sarkozy's government of abusing EU citizens rights for "populist, electoral reasons".
But Paris insists all the repatriations are voluntary - it is offering those who chose to leave a payment of 300 euros per adult and 100 euros per child - and entirely within EU law. It says Romania and Bulgaria must do more to help the Roma integrate and is calling on the EU to bring pressure to bear on the two countries.
An opinion poll released today showed that 48 percent of the French public support the government's campaign to dismantle unauthorised camps and expel Roma migrants.
