EC law and the eviction of Roma people from their French settlements by the authorities

30.10.2013

Question for written answer E-012342-13
to the Commission
Rule 117
Hélène Flautre (Verts/ALE)

In the first half of 2013, the French authorities evicted more than 10 000 Roma people from their settlements. This is over half of the Roma population living in France, estimated at between 15 000 and 20 000. In most cases, the evictions are carried out with no regard for the Roma people’s dignity: they are not offered alternative housing solutions, family units are split up and the general climate is one of ethnic discrimination and force (they are stigmatised and threatened with immediate expulsion from the country). Furthermore, a large number of Romanian and Bulgarian nationals are being held in detention centres even though they have been in France for less than three months. The instability they are subjected to is damaging to the inclusion process: they are placed in a vulnerable situation, schooling and healthcare are interrupted and marginalisation is perpetuated.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled that the planned eviction of Roma from a camp in Sofia would constitute a breach of the right to private and family life if it went ahead and that the authorities had not given due consideration to whether the measure was proportionate and necessary (Judgment of 24 April 2012: Yordanova and others v. Bulgaria).

Does the Commission consider that in carrying out these evictions the French authorities are abiding by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, in particular Article 1 on the right to human dignity, Article 7 on the right to private and family life, Article 21 prohibiting discrimination and Article 34(3) on the right to housing assistance and by the Racial Equality Directive (Directive 2000/43/EC) and the Freedom of Movement Directive (Directive 2004/38/EC)? What measures does the Commission intend to take to ensure that the French authorities abide by EC law?

Does the Commission consider these evictions to be in line with the EU framework for national Roma integration strategies? How is the Commission monitoring the redrafting and implementation of France’s strategy for Roma integration?

OJ C 298, 04/09/2014