Over recent weeks, France has pushed forward with implementing a policy that targets Roma and travellers, both migrants and citizens, consisting of shutting down Roma and travellers’ camps and deporting migrants.
The policy targets both those Roma migrants from Romania and Bulgaria residing in France, estimated at around 15,000 people, and also the French Roma and traveller community, estimated at around 350,000 people. According to official statements, France plans to disband 300 camps over the next three months, several of which have already been broken up. Last year France sent ‘home’ around 10,000 Roma people (several EU states followed this example), and during the last week it has deported around 700 Roma people to Bulgaria and Romania. Roma are offered 300 EUR per adult and 100 EUR per child if they voluntarily leave France.
