The fate of the Roma in Europe
After the recent French crackdown on the Roma, is the EU facing deep divisions?
Deciding the fate of the Roma population in Europe EU immigration ministers meet in Paris on Monday.
They have been under the spotlight since July when the French government announced a crackdown on their camps. Since then, thousands have been repatriated to Romania and Bulgaria.
Recently, Italy announced similar plans to expel its Roma population.
The migrant group has been accused of breeding crime but many of them just want to live a normal life.
Ministers from the European countries where the ‘problem’ originates were not invited, but can they be ignored? After the French crackdown on the Roma, is the EU facing deep divisions? Is it even legal for EU countries to expel other EU citizens?
Joining the programme are Saimir Mile, the president of the minority rights group The Voice of Roma, Daniel Van Der Stoep, a member of the European Parliament representing the Party for Freedom, a Dutch Party led by the controversial politician Geert Wilders, and Ian Traynor, the European editor of the British newspaper The Guardian.
This episode of Inside Story aired from Monday, September 6, 2010.