ERRC Provides European Commission Evidence of French Violations of EU Law

28 September 2010

Budapest, 28 September 2010: The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) submitted a legal briefing yesterday to the European Commission concerning the situation of Roma in France. The brief summarised ERRC research suggesting that France’s expulsion of Romani migrants to Romania violates several provisions of EU law and international human rights law.  France’s compliance with EU law presently is being reviewed by European Commission Vice-President Reding, and Commissioners Andor (Employment and Social Affairs) and Malmström (Home Affairs).

During recent weeks, the ERRC and other organisations undertook documentation and field research in several locations in France, Romania and Bulgaria to submit updated factual information concerning the alleged violations of the French authorities. Researchers conducted primary interviews with Romani migrants expelled from France and gathered documentation of evictions and expulsions. The data clearly indicates that ethnic discrimination and profiling and mass expulsions without individual consideration are taking place. The report also raises concerns that France’s collection of fingerprints and other identifying data may be in violation of European data protection law.

The ERRC submitted that the evidence strongly suggests that France’s actions are in violation of the EU’s Free Movement Directive, Racial Equality Directive and Data Protection Directive, as well as the European Union Charter on Fundamental Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights.

• ERRC Submission
• Appendix 1
• Appendix 2
• Appendix 3a
• Appendix 3b
• Appendix 4a
• Appendix 4b
• Appendix 5
• Appendix 6
• Appendix 7
• Appendix 8
• Appendix 9: ERRC is not making these documents public due to data protection and personal security concerns
• Appendix 10: ERRC is not making these documents public due to data protection and personal security concerns 
• Appendix 11a
• Appendix 11b
• Appendix 11c
• Appendix 11d
• Appendix 11e
• Appendix 12: ERRC is not making these documents public due to data protection and personal security concerns

Further information on the developments in France is available on the ERRC website.

For more information, contact:
Sinan Gokcen
ERRC Media and Communications Officer
sinan.gokcen@errc.org
+36.30.500.1324