European Parliament says France's expulsion of the Roma violates EU law

Expressing "deep concern" at recent measures taken by the French authorities and other EU Member States, Parliament argued on Thursday that mass expulsions of Roma people violate EU law as they amount to discrimination on the basis of race. MEPs called on policymakers to avoid "inflammatory rhetoric" and also criticised the Council and Commission's lack of commitment on the issue.

Le Parisien reports that French Immigration Minister Eric Besson has responded saying: "the European Parliament has gone beyond its prerogatives and we obviously don't have to accept a political diktat...Franceis both meticulously applying EU law and scrupulously respecting the French republican law ".

For more information on the position of the European Parliament you can read their plenary session notes. Also the Guardian, EUObserver and European Voice have covered the issue in length.