Roma Expelled

France deported over 200 Roma to Romania during August according to its Interior Ministry, as part of a crackdown on illegal immigration by President Nicolas Sarkozy. The French government offered EUR300 to each Roma adult who accepted a voluntary return, while children were offered EUR100 each. The action has proved controversial, as the French government dismantled 51 illegal Roma camps through August - drawing criticism from the Vatican which stated that 'one cannot generalise and take an entire group of people and kick them out'. Despite this potential source of friction between Romania and France, we expect relations to remain generally cordial - as illustrated by the Romanian government's eagerness to hold talks over the issue.

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