Swedish police revealed to have illegal data register of Roma people

24.9.2013

Question for written answer E-010818-13
to the Commission
Rule 117
Cecilia Wikström (ALDE)

It has been revealed that the Swedish police has a data register over Roma people living in Sweden. The register contains 4 029 names and aims at identifying family relations. Most people on the list have not been convicted of any crime. The list also contains names of around 1 000 children for the sole reason that they have Roma parents. There are 52 two-year olds in the register.

According to Swedish law it is illegal to create a register based on ethnicity. There is also reason to believe such a register is in breach of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (Article 3 on right to the integrity of the person, Article 7 on respect for private and family life, Article 8 on protection of personal data, Article 21 on non-discrimination and Article 24 on the rights of the child), as well as the Treaty on European Union, Articles 2, 6 and 7.

Will the Commission monitor the situation in Sweden regarding the police register of Roma people?

Could, and will, the Commission launch its own investigation to find out if the register is in breach of EC law and fundamental rights?

If investigations prove that the Swedish police is in breach of the Treaty and of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, will the Commission take action?

OJ C 206, 02/07/2014