The history of the Roma is marked by centuries of persecution. Discrimination seems to follow them wherever they go and therefore they are unable to enjoy full human rights in present-day Europe. Recently, several media sources have reported on anti-Roma persecutions in Italy.
However, the news of the current persecution of the Roma community in Italy has a particular dimension, as the reports are also about strongly discriminatory and threatening remarks by representatives of the parties in government, as well as legislative proposals that conflict with European Union law: prison sentences of up to four years have been proposed for people who enter the country illegally. The proposal is directed at people who lack proper papers and reveals a tendency that they are particularly seeking to “drive the Roma out of the country”. Collective expulsion is prohibited under the European Convention on Human Rights and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
Mr Lindblad asks the Committee of Ministers what action the Committee of Ministers plans to take to persuade Italy to fulfil its obligations in this respect as a member state of the Council of Europe.