Deportation of Roma illegal

France is being attacked from all sides except Italy for expelling Sinti and Roma. Italy's Interior MInsiter Roberto Maroni on Monday spoke out in favour of expelling EU citizens when they are too much of a burden on the social system of the host country. But deportation is illegal even when foreigners do place more of a burden on the social system than EU rules permit, writes the liberal daily La Stampa: "It would be a mistake to interpret what is happening in France and what Maroni plans for Italy only as the fruits of an anachronistic 'defence of one's own identity', or worse still, to confuse it with old prejudices against Gypsies. There is also and above all a problem with legality. ... The EU Commission does well to admonish Italy and France. Yet the very same Commission points out that immigrant EU citizens like the Roma are to make a living by their own means and not increase the burden on the social security network, they are to have health insurance and not pose a threat to public safety. These are four key points. But even if they are not respected there is no possibility of expulsion."

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