French authorities in recent weeks have repatriated hundreds of Romas and gypsies to Romania in a move which smacks of racism and bigotry.
In late July, the right-wing French government demolished hundreds of illegal Roma camps in a crime crackdown and sent more than 600 people back to Bucharest. Critics see the move as a means to boost the government's flagging popularity and deflect attention from moves to increase the retirement age and cut public spending.
Even billionaire George Soros has become embroiled in the expulsions, calling on Paris to stop the moves and asking the European Union to come up with a comprehensive inclusion plan. The Italian government has also endorsed the expulsions which gives each expelled Roma 300 euros for resettlement.
The policy however, is clearly discriminatory, according to the EU Commission. It's most recent statement, however, stopped short of condemning the repatriations against Europe's largest ethnic minority.
The expulsions are threatening the EU's laws allowing for the free movement of people within the bloc. France has acted alone in this drastic manner. Instead, it should follow the example of 12 other EU countries who have come up with a socially inclusive plan of settling the Romas.
