03 SEP 2010

By Valentina Pop

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – The European Commission has in an internal report called into question the legality of France's recent dismantling of Roma camps and repatriations of roughly one thousand Romanian and Bulgarian citizens.

"The Commission is seeking detailed information from the French authorities on whether and to which extent the safeguards required by the Free Movement Directive have been applied in recent cases," reads the report, seen by EUobserver.

The 25-page long document, signed by three commissioners responsible for justice, home affairs and social affairs, requests "full clarification" on the voluntary repatriations, under which adults are paid €300 and children €100 to return home.

"The fact alone that a lump sum is paid to EU citizens in case of return is (…) not sufficient for taking these returns out of the scope of the EU's free movement principles."

Read entire article