[EGP] EGP PRESS RELEASE : EGP Co-Spokespersons say that current crisis related to Italy's Romanian Community must be resolved quickly

08.11.2007

EGP Co-Spokespersons say that current crisis related to Italy’s Romanian community must be resolved quickly

Racist rhetoric and rushed through legislation risks provoking backlash against Italy’s Romanian community

The Spokespersons of the European Green Party today said that they hope that emergency legislation allowing for the speedy deportation from Italy of immigrants accused of committing crimes will be radically revised before being presented to Italy’s Parliament for ratification as it is completely unacceptable in its current form.

EGP Co-Spokesperson Philippe Lamberts said: “We understand the repulsion felt by Italian citizens at a recent spate of serious crimes, including the brutal murder of a woman. However, we are deeply concerned that the fact that these crimes are alleged to have been committed by Romanians of Roma origin has led to the Italian government hurriedly introducing an emergency decree allowing for the expulsion of EU Citizens without appeal. The power to expel people simply on suspicion or because of a fear that the person poses a threat to public order or safety is a step too far and sets an extremely dangerous precedent. That is why we very much hope that current discussions on the decree between the Interior Ministry and left-of-centre parties including the Italian Green Party(Federazione Dei Verdi) will mean that the text of the decree is changed so that no-one can be expelled without proper legal proceedings, including the right for the accused to have legal representation. The legal principle that must always be applied without exception is that those accused of a crime must receive a fair trial and then, if found guilty, should be punished. Group expulsions must not be allowed as they would be a blatant infringement of EU law. We also welcome the first steps taken by the European Commission to clarify the compatibility of expulsions with EU law but they must go much further in this clarification as there are still too many questions remaining unanswered.”

EGP Co-Spokesperson Ulrike Lunacek continued: “We call on politicians and media organisations in Italy to refrain from incendiary rhetoric against foreigners in general, and Romanians and Roma in particular. Such rhetoric will lead to the vast majority of law-abiding Romanians in Italy being unfairly targeted by vigilantes in xenophobic attacks. Indeed, this has already happened as three Romanians were attacked by a group of Italians in Rome last Friday. It is particularly deplorable that the extreme rightwing politician Gianfranco Fini has attempted to make political capital out of the crisis by making extremely defamatory and racist comments about all Roma. We support the call by our member party in Romania, PARTIDUL VERDE, for all Romanians living in Italy not to be intimidated by such xenophobic statements and share their hope that the Romanian community in Italy will cooperate with the Italian police so that the small minority of people who are breaking the law or behaving in an antisocial way can be apprehended. We hope that this crisis can be resolved quickly and that the principles of justice are respected so that Italy’s Romanian community are allowed to live in security and that good community relations can be restored.”

Graham Burgess

Communications Officer

European Green Party

Tel no :+32 2 626 0724

Mobile:+32 477 902 023

email:graham.burgess@europeangreens.org