War of words over France’s expulsions of Roma overshadows EU summit on foreign policy

France’s explusions of Gypsies dominates EU summit

BRUSSELS — The European Union’s justice commissioner insists she may take France to court over Gypsy expulsions as Paris vigorously defended its controversial policy, dashing hopes at an EU summit Thursday that leaders would be able to showcase a continent united.

Justice Commissioner Vivane Reding’s expression of regret over an outburst Tuesday comparing the expulsions to World War II deportations did little to defuse tensions at the summit, whose aim of forging a common EU front on the global stage has been hijacked by the Roma dispute.

She stood by her overall rebuke of France, and threatened to take the country to the European Court of Justice for breach of common EU rules. The policy has also drawn strong criticism from the United Nations and the Vatican.

France deported some 76,000 Jews from France to Nazi concentration camps, and interned thousands of Gypsies in camps in France during the war — but Paris angrily rejected any comparison with the current situation.

“Madame Reding … made unacceptable statements about French policy, in particular certain comparisons with the Second World War,” French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said. Reding acknowledged through her office that “there should not be a parallel with World War II.”

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has led France’s charge to expel Roma, spoke with Reding before the summit but did not comment to reporters upon arrival. He insists the expulsions are aimed at fighting crime and illegal immigration.

France’s deportations of over 1,000 Roma, primarily to Romania, and its dismantling of over 100 Roma camps have revived uncomfortable memories of historic hostilities in Europe that the 27-nation bloc was designed to overcome, and highlighted persistent divisions between richer, older EU members and poorer, newer ones.

Instead of constructively building on joint EU foreign policies in China, India and the rest of Asia, the EU leaders were faced with damage control at home.

“When we promote free trade, climate change and human rights around the world, we need to have our own backyard in order,” said Finland Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb. “And, of course, anything that looks a little bit different, perhaps suspicious or complicated in Europe, will not strengthen our foreign policy.”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel joined the criticism of Reding’s comments, even though both Germany and Italy were pushing for a discussion of the Roma issue on Thursday.

“I found the tone and especially the historical comparisons unsuitable,” she said. “And I hope we can find a better way.”

EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said France and the EU should use the summit as “a moment for dialogue.”

EU President Herman van Rompuy called Thursday’s summit to discuss how the bloc communicates and what its strategic goals are with key countries such as the United States and China. Over lunch, Van Rompuy also will update the leaders on progress by a task force on economic governance.

Van Rompuy says the bloc, which accounts for 22 percent of the world’s economy, is “punching below its weight” and wants leaders to discuss how they can build a common foreign policy message and “deliver it effectively.”

The EU has key summits in coming weeks with Asian nations including growing economic powerhouses China and India.

The EU suffered a setback Wednesday when the United Nations voted down its bid to have Van Rompuy and foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton speak on the EU’s behalf, starting at the 65th General Assembly session opening next week.

Ashton played down the vote, calling it a “procedural issue,” but it underscored the trouble Europe has in getting out a unified message.

Foreign ministers at Thursday’s summit are expected to consider a proposal for EU members to waive World Trade Organization tariffs on Pakistan textiles as a way of helping the country recover from devastating floods. Such a move could be worth between euro230-euro300 million ($290-$380 million) a year for Pakistan.

Extremely heavy monsoon rains unleashed floods in northwest Pakistan at the end of July and the disaster spread south, killing more than 1,700 people and affecting another 17 million.

In one of its first actions, the summit approved a multibillion dollar free trade deal between the EU and South Korea. The pact has been held up by Italy, which fears it could hurt its auto industry.