Italy could face an infringement
procedure by the European Commission (EC) over its
"segregationist" housing policy for ethnic Roma, an activist
association said Tuesday.
The Roma and Sinti rights association 21 Luglio said the
Italian government had been asked to provide "additional
information" concerning the living conditions of Italy's
150,000-180,000-strong population of Roma, Sinti and Travellers
who are largely confined to more or less equipped camps on the
remote outskirts of major towns and cities, citing a letter from
the EC Directorate-General for Justice.
The EC is particularly concerned about conditions at the La
Barbuta nomad camp in east Rome, the association added.
In the letter the commission said it shared "the concerns
expressed by the Council of Europe's human rights commsissioner
over this kind of accommodation for Roma at a site that is
extremely remote and inaccessible, and equipped with fencing and
surveillance systems."
Such accommodation "seriously restricts the fundamental
rights of the interested parties by completely isolating them
from the outside world and depriving them of adequate
opportunities for employment and education," the letter
continued.
Rome's La Barbuta camp came to public attention earlier
this year following the announcement of plans to build a Leroy
Merlin hyperstore in its place.
Under the project, the French DIY giant would build a new
'village' for 400 of the current 580 inhabitants near the
existing site.
The remaining 180 residents would be relocated elsewhere.
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