Posts Tagged ‘fundamental rights’

“I personally have been appalled by a situation which gave the impression that people are being removed from a Member State of the European Union just because they belong to a certain ethnic minority. This is a situation I had thought Europe would not have to witness again after the Second World War”, Viviane Reding commenced. In a public statement given on 25 August 2010 Viviane Reding had already criticized the French measures. She submitted a preliminary legal analysis of the French measures on 1 September to President Barroso and the College of Commissioners. Indeed the French measures could be in violation of EU law but during a formal meeting with French ministers Eric Besson and Pierre Lellouche, the Vice president Reding received political assurances regarding the fact that specific ethnic groups had not been targeted in France. The point at issue is that the French government has sent out an administrative circular in contradiction with the political assurances. “(…) National authorities who discriminate ethnic groups in the application of EU law are also violating the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, which all Member States, including France, have signed up to” commented Reding. But Vice president of the European Commission took note that the French Minister of Interior has signed a new circular without references to specific ethnic group: the Roma. It is necessary that not only the words change, but also the concrete behavior of the French government. This is the reason why Reding pushed the European Commission to initiate infringement action against France for discriminatory application of the Free Movement Directive. Member States can not violate the fundamental values and the EU law, it is Reding’s warning.

• Download the entire Reding’s statement here: Speech_Reding_14_09_2010