[xtypo_dropcap]D[/xtypo_dropcap]escribing comments made by a European Union commissioner as “outrages,” French President Nicolas Sarkozy defended the recent expulsions of Roma migrants from France on Thursday.
EU justice Commissioner Viviane Reding had linked France’s expulsions of the migrants to mass deportations that took place in World War II.
Speaking at an EU summit in Brussels, Sarkozy said the remarks have “hurt and shocked my fellow citizens.”
Sarkozy vowed to continue the dismantling of the illegal camp sites, without “aiming at a given ethnic population.”
Last week, the European Parliament adopted a resolution demanding France suspend the expulsion. France is expected to close 300 in total camps across France.
Over the last three years, the French government has expelled scores of immigrants of Roma origin, mostly back to Romania and Bulgaria, culminating in the deportation of 12,000 in 2009. Romania and Bulgaria are both members of the EU.
EU justice Commissioner Viviane Reding had linked France’s expulsions of the migrants to mass deportations that took place in World War II.
Speaking at an EU summit in Brussels, Sarkozy said the remarks have “hurt and shocked my fellow citizens.”
Sarkozy vowed to continue the dismantling of the illegal camp sites, without “aiming at a given ethnic population.”
Last week, the European Parliament adopted a resolution demanding France suspend the expulsion. France is expected to close 300 in total camps across France.
Over the last three years, the French government has expelled scores of immigrants of Roma origin, mostly back to Romania and Bulgaria, culminating in the deportation of 12,000 in 2009. Romania and Bulgaria are both members of the EU.
