France Europe has to cope with a real "fourth world"

August 3, 2010

Comment: In a series of articles, the major French newspapers report on the situation of Romanian citizens of Roma origin present on the French territory.

The online newspaper “Toute l’Europe”, a website analyzing the political developments at European level, reports on the recent meeting held by the French Secretary of State on European Affairs, Pierre Lellouche, with the representatives of Hors la Rue, a French NGO providing services to vulnerable children in the streets of Paris.

According to the newspaper, Pierre Lellouche detailed several measures to be taken to solve “the issue of Roma”, considering that Europe had to cope with a “fourth world”.

Mr Lellouche rightly points out that measures have to be taken at a European level and consists of raising the awareness of Europeans on the situation of Roma people, using European funds to improve their situation and take repressive measures against those who “use teenagers and children”.

Mr Lellouche however recalled that his objectives were “perfectly in line” with the one of the NGOs, namely to prevent unacceptable housing conditions and situations were children are highly vulnerable to exploitation by organized crime networks.

The apparent symbiosis between the thoughts of Mr Lellouche and the position of NGOs is however in contradiction not only with previous declarations of higher executive officials (including the French President Nicolas Sarkozy) to which he is subordinated but also with the recent actions taken by authorities to dismantle Roma camps and expel Romanian citizens from the French territory.

The dismantling of camps has not started recently as more than 10 camps have been destroyed since January as reported by Le Monde (read article here), and in the last two days two camps were dismantled in Paris and Saint Etienne (read article here) and La Rochelle (read article here) according to national and local newspapers. The French president ordered the evacuation of more than 300 camps during a meeting on the situation of Roma people surrounded by security concerns.

The repatriation of Roma people is also taking place under different schemes such as the assisted voluntary return programme of the French government or forced repatriations ordered by judicial authorities.

“Toute l’Europe” website also reports the words of Mr Lellouche on the reinforcement of the collaboration between Romania and France, especially regarding the convention for the repatriation of unaccompanied Romanian minors (which, contrary to what “Toute l’Europe” affirms, has not been yet signed). The convention which is currently under discussion at the French National Assembly following its approval by the Senate, includes provisions in contradiction with basic child rights as enshrined in the UN CRC, confirming that behind the legitimate protection preoccupation of Mr Lellouche, all European Union citizens are still not on an equality foot, children included.

Comments: Pierre Cazenave, Regional Child Rights Officer, Terre des hommes – Child Relief