My subjects in english

The European Commission, and specifically Vice-President Viviane Reding, is to be hugley congratulated for her strong and outright condemnation of  French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s totally indefensible expulsion of Roma people from France.

Mrs Reding, who has responsiblility for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, has just made a statement in which she pulls no punches in condemning the French government. 

Given the significance of what Mrs Reding said, I have reproduced it almost in full, as follows: 

“Over the past weeks, the European Commission has been following very closely the developments in France regarding the Roma.

“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.

“I have made crystal clear my doubts about the legality of the French measures in a public statement on 25 August – a statement that was made in full agreement with Commission President Barroso with whom I worked closely on this issue over summer.

“Together with Commissioner Andor and Commissioner Malmström, I submitted a preliminary legal analysis of the French measures on 1 September to President Barroso and the College of Commissioners.

“This preliminary analysis stressed, inter alia, that France would be in violation of EU law if the measures taken by the French authorities in applying the Free Movement Directive had targeted a certain group on the basis of nationality, race or ethnic origin.

“During a formal meeting with French ministers Eric Besson and Pierre Lellouche, the Commission – Commissioner Malmström and myself – received political assurances that specific ethnic groups had not been targeted in France. Our doubts remained. This is why last Tuesday, following discussion in the Commission college, I sent a further formal letter to French minister Besson to ask for additional details, which should be sent to the Commission swiftly.

“I can only express my deepest regrets that the political assurances given by two French ministers officially mandated to discuss this matter with the European Commission are now openly contradicted by an administrative circular issued by the same government.

“The role of the Commission as guardian of the Treaties is made extremely difficult if we can no longer have confidence in the assurances given by two ministers in a formal meeting with two Commissioners and with around 15 senior officials on the table from both sides.

“…this is not a minor offence in a situation of this importance. After 11 years of experience in the Commission, I would even go further: This is a disgrace.

“Let me be very clear: Discrimination on the basis of ethnic origin or race has no place in Europe. It is incompatible with the values on which the European Union is founded. 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.

“I therefore find it deeply disturbing that a Member State calls so gravely into question, by the actions of its administration, the common values and the law of our European Union.”

I also take issue with the statements made by the French Secretary of State for European Affairs yesterday questioning the role of the European Commission as guardian of the Treaties. The Commission’s role as guardian of the Treaties is one of the foundations of the European Union – a Union which is held together not by force, but by respect of the rule of law agree upon by all Member States, including France.

I take note that the French authorities seem themselves to become aware that the developments of this weekend put them into an untenable situation. I also take note that yesterday afternoon the French Minister of the Interior signed a new circular on the matter eliminating the references to a specific ethnic group, the Roma. We are currently looking into the legal implications of this – it is important that not only the words change, but also the behaviour of the French authorities. I am, therefore, asking the French authorities for immediate and swift explanation of the matter.

The Commission will include all these developments, as well as other relevant documentation, into our final legal analysis of the situation. This legal analysis is done in close cooperation by my services, the services of Commissioners Malmström and Andor, as well as with the Legal Service of the President, and I expect it to be completed in the days to come.

I am personally convinced that the Commission will have no choice but to initiate infringement action against France:

-        Infringement proceedings against France for a discriminatory application of the Free Movement Directive.

-        And infringement proceedings against France for lack of transposition of the procedural and substantive guarantees under the Free Movement Directive.

I will of course give the French authorities the right to submit comments on the new developments in the course of the next days. But I make it very clear my patience is wearing thin: enough is enough.

No Member State can expect special treatment, especially not when fundamental values and European laws are at stake. This applies today to France. This applies equally to all other Member States, big or small, which would be in a similar situation. You can count on me for that.”

Source: The Honeyball buzz

Romania has expressed concern about the deportations of Gypsies, or Roma, from France, saying it could lead to “xenophobic reactions”. Friday’s statement came as French authorities put some 100 Roma, on a charter flight headed to their native Romania after expelling scores of others on Thursday.

As hundreds of deported Roma, were expected to arrive in Romania from France on Friday and the coming days, Romanian President Traian Basescu expressed concern about the situation.

In a statement, he said Romania “understands the position of the French government.” But Mr. Basescu stressed Romania also supports “unconditionally the right of every Romanian citizen to travel without restrictions within the European Union” as his country is an EU member state.

These concerns are shared by the EU’s executive body, the European Commission said spokesman Matthew Newman.

“We are obviously, very concerned about any form of discrimination, our policies is always to promote full integration of the Roma population in Europe. Let me just remind that Roma people are just like any Europeans people, they are full European citizens, they have the right to free movement anywhere in the EU,” said Newman.  “…These are the rights that they have and they need to be respected. And all member states need ensure that these rights are respected.”

The Vatican, rights groups and the Council of Europe have also criticized the massive expulsions of Roma. Authorities in France say the deportations are part of an effort by conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy to dismantle what they call “illegal” Roma camps.

They have pledged to give each adult $386 and each child $128 to help them get back on their feet in their home country, if they leave without resistance.

With no signs of France backing down, Romanian President Basescu has offered to send police to help in the careful repatriation of Roma, who have been described as among Europe’s most discriminated and impoverished people.

Talking to reporters, expelled Roma expressed concerns about their future in Romania.

One man explained that he studied for 10 years and has a diploma. Yet, he claimed, he will only earn 250 euro, about $317 (U.S.) per month.

Roma are also expected to be expelled to Bulgaria.

Although Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007, the French government says Roma should show work permits and prove they can support themselves if they stay in France for more than 90 days.

Source: VOA News

The philosopher: Gilles Deleuze

The text: Nietzsche and philosophy.

         “When somebody asks “what’s the use of philosophy”, the reply must be aggressive, since the question tries to be ironic and caustic. Philosophy does not serve the State or the Church, who have other concerns. It serves no established power. The use of philosophy is to sadden. A philosophy that saddens no one, that annoys no one, is not a philosophy. It is useful for harming stupidity, for turning stupidity into something shameful. Its only use is the exposure of all forms of baseness of thought. Is there any discipline apart from philosophy that sets out to criticise all mystifications, whatever the source and aim, to expose all the fictions without whiche reactive forces would not prevail? Exposing as a mystification the mixture of baseness and stupidity that creates the atonishing complicity of both victims and perpetrators. Finally, turning thought into something aggressive, active and affirmative. Creating free men, that is to say men who do not confuse the aims of culture with the benefit of the State, morality or religion. Fighting the ressentiment and bad conscience which have replaced thought for us. Conquering the negative and its false glamour. Who has an interesting in all this but philosophy? Philosophy is at its most positive as critique, as an enterprise of demystification. And we shoul not be too hasty in proclaiming philosophy’s failure in this respect. Great as they are, stupidity and baseness would be still greater if there did not remain some philosophy which always prevents them from going as far as they would wish, which forbids them –if only by yea-saying- form being as stupid and base as they would wish. They are forbidden certain excesses, but only by philosophy.                   (Gilles Deleuze. Nietzsche and philosophy)