The European Commission said today that it would begin legal proceedings against France over its handling of Roma minorities, which the top EU justice official called a "disgrace."

"I am personally convinced that the commission will have no choice but to initiate infringement proceedings against France," European justice commissioner Viviane Reding told a news conference.

Reding rebuked the French government over a leaked memo which "openly contradicted" assurances given by two ministers to the commission that specific ethnic groups had not been targeted in France.

"The role of the commission as guardian of the treaties is made extremely difficult if we can no longer have confidence in the assurances given by two ministers in a formal meeting," she said.

"This is not a minor offence in a situation of this importance," she said.

"After 11 years of experience in the commission, I even go further: this is a disgrace," Reding charged.