Last modification: 08/12/08
 -  France - immigration - Roma people
 
Inside fortress Europe
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Legal and illegal immigrants across Europe - from Amsterdam to the Spanish north-African enclave of Melilla, Roma residents, workers and mixed-nationality couples: all struggle to lead normal lives.

  • FRANCE
    The castaways of illegal immigration
    Around 600 illegal immigrants live in makeshift camps around the northern French harbour town of Calais, hoping to hide in a lorry bound for the United Kingdom. The authorities do little for them and local charities say they are overloaded.
  • REPORTERS
    Ethnic, religious tensions shake tolerant Netherlands
    After an anti-Islamic film by far-right deputy Geert Wilders hit the web, prompting outrage in the Muslim world, the Netherlands' image as a model multicultural nation is beginning to tarnish. (Report: G. Cragg, N. Ransom)
  • FRANCE - IMMIGRATION
    Slum evacuation divides Roma community
    In late August, a Roma slum north of Paris was evacuated to make way for new council flats. Some families were re-housed in a resettlement camp. Some agreed to return to Romania on state-sponsored flights. Others simply disappeared.
  • FRANCE - MARRIAGE
    Mixed-nationality French-foreign couples complain of discrimination
    Married couples composed of a French citizen and a foreigner have fewer rights in France than if they were both foreign, according to a pressure group taking 13 cases before a discrimination watchdog.

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  • SPAIN - MOROCCO
    Clandestine immigrants incognito in Melilla
    Undocumented immigrants from Africa go through considerable hardships to get to Europe and are often caught because their skin marks them as foreign. But a new kind of clandestine migration relies on invisibility.
  • UNITED KINGDOM
    Britain to limit immigration, report claims
    Pressures placed on the job market by the financial crisis were behind a decision to "balance" the number of people coming in and leaving the country, The Times has quoted the new immigration minister, Phil Woolas, as saying.
  • EUROPE
    EU holds first summit on Roma community
    EU and Roma community leaders on Tuesday sought to discuss the difficulties encountered by one of Europe's biggest minorities. The meeting comes amid controversy over Italian steps to fingerprint the country's Roma residents.
  • FRANCE - IMMIGRATION
    Last goodbyes in a Roma slum
    Constantin Drezaliu and his family have joined an integration scheme to obtain decent housing after the Parisian suburb of Saint-Ouen decided to tear down a Roma shantytown. FRANCE 24 followed them during their last hours in the camp.
  • HUMAN RIGHTS
    UN report criticises French human rights record
    According to the UN Human Rights Committee, France does not treat potential immigrants properly. The report also slammed prison conditions.
  • FRANCE - IMMIGRATION
    France wins EU support on immigration pact
    European interior ministers agreed to throw their weight behind a French proposal to harmonize immigration policies throughout the EU. Specialists interviewed on France 24 agreed that it is a significant move.
  • EU - IMMIGRATION
    EU agrees on immigration reform pact
    EU nations approved an outline for a European pact on migration, illegal immigration, asylum and development, which they are set to sign in October.
  • IMMIGRATION - EU
    EU adopts controversial immigration rules
    The European Parliament adopted new rules allowing the detention of illegal immigrants for up to 18 months despite strong criticism from immigrant rights groups, including the UN's top human rights official.
  • SWITZERLAND
    Swiss voters reject tough immigration proposal
    64% of Swiss voters firmly rejected a far-right referendum that would have made it harder for foreigners to become naturalised citizens. According to a 2006 census, foreign residents constitute a fifth of the Swiss population.
  • ITALY
    Berlusconi's government in immigration row
    Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi, who vowed at the time of his April election to crack down on immigration, is preparing anti-immigration measures aimed largely at Romanians, following crimes involving nationals of that country. (Report: C. Moore)
  • REPORTERS
    Ethnic, religious tensions shake tolerant Netherlands
    After an anti-Islamic film by far-right deputy Geert Wilders hit the web, prompting outrage in the Muslim world, the Netherlands' image as a model multicultural nation is beginning to tarnish. (Report: G. Cragg, N. Ransom)
  • FRANCE - IMMIGRATION
    French illegal immigrants strike, along with their boss
    French President Nicolas Sarkozy has promised to deport 25,000 illegal immigrants each year. But at one Parisian restaurant, the workers and the boss are putting up a fight.
  • USA - GOP DEBATE
    Illegal immigration dominates debate
    Republican presidential hopefuls exchanged blows Nov. 28 on immigration, religion, and gun control during a debate in St. Petersburg, Fla.

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