Gonzi steers clear of Roma dispute at EU summit
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi refused to be drawn today in the row between France and the European Commission on the deportation of Roma gypsies, but said that EU rules on the free movement of its citizens should be observed by all member states.
“The issue is very sensitive and we think that all member states should respect to the letter the rules of the EU. However an ongoing investigation on what exactly happened in France is going on and it wouldn’t be prudent to make further comments,” Dr Gonzi said.
The summit was dominated by France's Roma expulsions as President Nicolas Sarkozy rejected World War II parallels as "outrageous" and vowed to continue clearing "illegal camps".
The Paris-Brussels dispute shattered the agenda of the European Union parley and hung heavy in the air, with Sarkozy lashing out at European justice chief Viviane Reding for her criticism of France.
Reding's insinuation that the return of planeloads of Roma Gypsies to Romania and Bulgaria smacked of World War II scenarios was "a historical shortcut that profoundly hurt the French," Sarkozy said.
"These words were deeply hurtful, my duty as head of state was to defend France.
"All heads of state and government were shocked by the outrageous comments," he said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed, describing the historical parallel as "unfortunate", while British Prime Minister David Cameron said he was "shocked."
Hoping to stem the rift, EU president Herman Van Rompuy called for mutual understanding. "The relationship between states and European institutions must be based on respect," he said.
Van Rompuy said there was an EU consensus to ban discrimination based on nationality or ethnicity though member states could take domestic measures "to ensure respect of the law," on condition they were in line with EU legislation.
Though France has come in for a mass of criticism for its tough line on travellers, Reding's attack infuriated Sarkozy to the snapping point.
She also threatened to drag Paris before the European Court of Justice.
European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso -- Reding's boss -- reiterated that discrimination against ethnic minorities was "unacceptable."
Despite it all, Sarkozy said French authorities would continue to dismantle "all illegal camps," whoever they belonged to.
Originally scheduled to look at foreign policy, economic and trade issues, the summit boiled over into a blistering lunch-table dispute between Sarkozy and Barroso, head of the EU's executive arm.
Sarkozy denied he had argued with Barroso.
But several sources confirmed the dispute. Luxembourg Prime Minister said "it was a testosterone-heavy exchange" and Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov described it as "fierce"
Barroso himself refused all comment, saying it was time to move on.
But another source said Barroso "vigorously defended" the role of the commission, which polices the application of EU-wide laws governing freedom of movement for all citizens.
In other business, leaders sealed a ground-breaking free-trade deal with South Korea and mulled ways of preventing a new economic crisis.
Foreign ministers also called on Israel to extend a freeze on new settlement building in East Jerusalem and agreed in principle to help flood-hit Pakistan.
But the row between France and the European Commission overshadowed events.
Sarkozy was also quoted as telling party allies that Luxembourg, from where Reding hails, could take France's Roma deportees, which the tiny state denounced Thursday as "inappropriate."
"What we've seen in the past few days of course is a little bit unusual for Europe," said Finland's Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb.
Reding, in a bid to ease tensions, expressed "regret," insisting that she "in no way wanted to draw a parallel between World War II and the actions of the French government today."
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, for his part, argued that "the problem of the Roma concerned every country in Europe."
Italy had its own brush with the commission in 2008 when it started to register Roma living in camps, taking fingerprints and documenting their ethnicity and religion.
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colin stanley
Sep 17th 2010, 10:02
There was a time not so long ago,that if an Englishman, or any other foreigner wanted to come and settle in Malta, they went through a lot of red tape to get the go ahead even to buy property here, now we are getting people from all over coming here and expecting to be kept for free. if these roma people start coming here too, it will be even worse, people begging in the streets ,etc.
Paul Saliba
Sep 17th 2010, 09:33
How about all those blubbering in favor of the Roma taking them to their own homes and keeping them at their own expense?
Joe Demanuele
Sep 17th 2010, 09:31
Rompuy, Barroso and the Commissioners represent no one and have no legitimacy to decide for the people and member states. They are unelected by the people and were only put there. Again they represent absolutely NO ONE and only represent themselves.
T Camilleri
Sep 17th 2010, 09:30
Hoping to stem the rift, EU president Herman Van Rompuy called for mutual understanding. "The relationship between states and European institutions must be based on respect," he said."
Respect? Since when did the EU respect the member countries? Go tell it to the marines Rompuy.
lgalea
Sep 17th 2010, 09:27
Sarkozy is to be commended for his action to stop his country being invaded by foreigners. This is what is happening in Malta and yet our Prime Minister is all smiles like the statue's Angel. We have already had a small taste of what these people are like. Remember how many were caught robbing people and stealing from shops including one who was caught less than two and a half hours after landing here when she had already robbed a number of people? This is the future if we stay in the eu.
Louise Vella
Sep 17th 2010, 09:21
Good one for Dr Gonzi here. But we need to see the results. Not only do illegal immigrants enter a country illegally. But their countries have a legal obligation to take them back. But they refuse to do it. And the EU is not insisting on this obligation of sub-Saharan countries, which they entered into willingly, but which they refuse to respect. Do-gooders please note!
S. Calleja
Sep 17th 2010, 08:54
As Dr Simon Busuttil wrote in his article "Will it be farewell Roma" on the Times of Wed 15th September - http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100915/opinion/will-it-be-farewell-roma - the EU Directive 2004/38/EC regarding Freedom of Movement within the EU is not unconditional. Quoting his column: "For instance, for stays longer than three months, one must be employed or self-employed or otherwise have sufficient resources so as not to become a financial burden."
In Brussels, Rome and many other European capitals as a matter of fact, one cannot help but notice the number of Roma people begging in the streets. I thus wonder how much the EU Directive 2004/38/EC is actually being enforced.
Sean Grima
Sep 17th 2010, 08:45
it is easy to bully the roma people, and african immigrants: strong with the weak !
Mark Dalli
Sep 17th 2010, 07:44
Has any maltese politician asked "What shall we do if Roma people decide to settle in Malta?"
According to our agreement with the EU They can within 2 years time...actually any EU citizen can.
I think we should back France totally!
David Buttigieg
Sep 17th 2010, 13:06
Er, you do know EU citizens can already move here don't you?
They don't need to wait these 2 year of yours and yet ... we are not packed with them! Incredible!
l fenech
Sep 17th 2010, 07:24
Ghal xi haga bhal din mahniex fl-EU.
sandro pace
Sep 17th 2010, 01:11
It is very easy to call for total submission to EU laws when you are not the target of such massive population movement. But when Malta is the target, we expect solidarity, flexibility, exceptions and all. What hypocrisy! Malta should have sided with the French, even in appreciation of this country's solidarity towards us in a similar situation.
This issue should have united all nation's leaders. In any case, no one will take sarkozy's legitimate rights as a statesman to protect his country against disorder. Let alone a little lady from a little country, posing as a commissioner.
CZARB
Sep 17th 2010, 08:30
Amen. You couldn't have said it better.
Paul Barrett
Sep 17th 2010, 00:33
I must admit that although the EU policy is of free movement, I have to have sympathy with France on this problem.
We are not talking about one or two individuals, we are talking about thousands of people invading private or public land and setting up camps. Months of legal battles to move them on where they move a few yards and re-settle.
Just imagine this happening in Malta - farmland, private or public property just taken over by hoards of families, living off the land with no jobs, income or other means of support other than to get what they can for free. A huge increase in state aid required - education required for the children if nothing else.
France is not returning these people to a war zone, they are not in danger of their lives, they are parasites who wish to do as they please wherever they please at others expense.
sandro pace
Sep 17th 2010, 00:27
Ara tiehu pozizjoni darba Gonz ta, ma jmurx tidher ikrah ma' xi hadd. Ghal giehna favur pajjiz li jghina fil-"krizijiet taghna", u ghandu kull ragun legittimu f'din il-kwistjoni, jghidu x'jghidu l-obligi ewropej.
Jekk irridu juzufruwixxu mil-freedom of movement ir-Rom u kull cittadin EU iehor ghandu jaffordja jixtri propjeta' jew residenza fil pajjiz li jrid jghix fih u ma jkunx piz fuq il-pajjiz. Inkella fejn ha nispiccaw? Dawn kien ikun jonqos hawn Malta. Nahseb bhal Sarkozy kien ikollu l-guts jaghmel Gonzi. Bid-difetti kollha taghhom, Sarkozy u Berlusconi poggew lis-sinjura Reding f'posta, u probabli ghadha tintmessah mil-hasla li qalat.
Sewwa qalhom, min iridhom jehodhom hu. Sarkozy huwa statesman u leader. L-ewwel prijorita' hija l-ordni go pajjizu u mhux drittijiet immaginarji. Mela sewwa, l-ewwel jigu jimponu ruhhom fuqek, u jekk tkeccihom tghidlek nazzist is-sinjura Reding. Ara x'ghandha x'taqsam id-diskriminazjoni. Qas kieku, ghax jekk ligi tiggustifika invazjoni jew caqlieq sproporzjonat ta' persuni fuq pajjiz iehor, allura m'ghandiex tigi obduta. L-ebda pajjiz ma hu infinit.
reno calleja
Sep 16th 2010, 23:43
I am somewhat dissapointed at the cautious position adopted by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi at the European Summit , on the expulsion by France of the Roma people. Dr Gonzi has won my admiration and many others in Malta for his strong stand in favour of immigrants in Malta. Thatis why I expected to take a more stronger stand in favour of the Roma people.
Peggy Hollinger and Chris Bryant hit the nail on the head , in a recent article on the Financial Times. They stated that '' the Western European Governments, make the roma people
n easy target to distract attention from problems at home''
Sarkozy's poll numbers are dismal and his admistration is plagued by scandals. What better way to instil fear?
France is not the only country that is targeting the roma people. Germany wants to expel l2,OOO of them to Kosovo. No wonder the Vatican Secretary of the Pastoral Care of Migrants condemnded the mass explusion of the Roma people.
In times of economic crisis, Xenophobia rarely restricts itself to a single target.
CZARB
Sep 17th 2010, 08:38
I guess you don't really know what the Roma problem truly is, what is its effect, their resistance to an integration which demands a way of living (build on academic education, regular jobs and stability) which goes in contrast with their own way of living. Mr Sarkozy is not against the Roma people. He is merely paying those who do not work (guess how these people live) to return to their countries. Any Roma who had integrated well in France and is working is free (and encouraged) to stay like any other citizen. Period.
malcolm seychell
Sep 16th 2010, 21:35
Keep on the good work Sarko.
We should also back him
Shame on the EU for doing practically nothing to safeguard the safety and security of every nation.
Sean Grima
Sep 17th 2010, 08:41
actually, shame on you for trying to differntiate amongst people on the basis of ethnicity and skin colour!