The New Europe: Freedom Against Aliens and Minorities

Abstract

The Roma are the most marginalized and discriminated ethnic minority group in Europe. They have been, and continue to be, persistent targets of relentless persecution and stigmatization undertaken by state governments, the media, and the general public. Hatred and contempt against the Roma have grown to the point where the term “Romophobia” adequately encapsulates the views of the majority of countries in Europe (Brearley 2001: 593). In recent years, France has increased its efforts to create more restrictive and exclusionary internal immigration policies targeting ethnic minorities, in order to cleanse the nation of all Roma migrants. Driven by xenophobic and racist rhetoric, the French government has enacted laws that criminalize the Roma lifestyles by re-framing the minority group as a national security threat. This has allowed the government to strip them of their rights as European Union (EU) citizens, dismantle their settlements, and deport thousands out of France. Despite receiving widespread criticism from both the international community and EU institutions, no adequate actions have been taken to protect the Roma from ongoing rights abuses. Roma groups continue to be deported from France, fostering an environment of intolerance and racism towards marginalized groups within the country. The EU’s complacent attitude towards France’s immigration policies is facilitating the creation of a sub-class of less desirable citizens who are being selectively excluded from Europe, despite having resided there for decades.