Reding slams France for using Roma as election scapegoats

Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding has strongly criticised the “electioneering” rhetoric of French Interior Minister Manuel Valls, who has called for Roma from Bulgaria and Romania to sent back where they came from.

BBC News reported on the 16 October 2013 that France's government was embroiled in a row over the repatriation of a Kosovo Roma schoolgirl, who was removed from her school bus.

• Primary Source

EUObserver, 26.09.13: French minister's anti-Roma remarks draw EU criticism http://euobserver.com/justice/121573

BBC News, 25.09.13: French minister Valls defends call for Roma expulsions http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24273380

ESO: Background information: Roma: Commission calls on Member States to step up efforts on integration http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-roma-commission-calls-on-member-states-to-step-up-efforts-on-integration/

Deutsche Welle, 26.09.13: France reacts to EU advocacy for Roma http://dw.de/p/19oiV

BBC News, 27.09.13: French police clear Roma camp in centre of Roubaix http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24296405

BBC News, 16.10.13: Row over Kosovo Roma expulsion grips France http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24547807

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