France May Impose Curbs On EU Migrants Under New Anti-Terror Laws

Close on the heels of the Britain's posturings against receiving EU migrants, the France is also joining the anti-migrants charade, with two bills to that effect in front of the French Parliament. The French Bills on immigration and terrorism seek to empower the state to refuse "undesirable citizens" of other EU states entering that country.

Anti-EU Position

The provisions of the Bill are expressly antithetical to the stand taken by Jose Manuel Barroso, the European Commission president, against David Cameron's attempt to control EU migration. Barroso, the other day, cautioned the U.K. Prime Minister that any law to curb freedom of movement for EU citizens will be a red herring for EU as it considers movement as an "essential" principle of the federation, reports Daily Mail.

One clause of anti-terrorism bill approved by the Senate last week stated that "any national of an EU member-state ... or any member of the family of an individual will be banned from entering the French territory if their presence causes a serious threat to a fundamental interest of society, in terms of public order or security, because of their personal behaviour."

The Immigrants' Information and Support Group, a Paris-based non-governmental organisation, said the "vaguely-worded" proposals would be used to target a number of migrants entering France "under the cover of protecting the country from terrorism". The group is worried that the law will be used against Roma from Romania and Bulgaria, said its representative Claudia Charles.

Issue Of Integration

Critics believe the new measures could be manipulated to stop any foreigner from entering France, even those with EU passports, reports Independent. The Socialist government clerly wants to get rid of undesirables such as Roma gypsies or eastern European gangsters.

Justifying the move, Prime Minister Manuel Valls said the intent of the law was to keep undesirables out. In many of his interactions with media, Mr Valls has reiterated his remarks on the need for expelling groups like Roma, who are from the EU countries like Bulgaria and Romania. For the French PM, it is all about integrating with the French society and those difficult on integration will be 'sent back to the borders' because of such groups' association with crimes ranging from robbery to muggings and aggressive begging.

The new legislations also indicate the rightward shift in French policies. Already, the National Front party which is anti-immigration and anti-EU is high on opinion polls. Regarding the concerns of rights group, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry in Paris said each case would be considered 'on its own merits' and the legislation is no blanket attempt to target specific EU communities including the Romas.