Title: Limits to the rights of freedom of movement and residence of the Roma minority within the European Union

Authors: Rosa Julia Pla Coelho

Addresses: Universidade de Fortaleza – UNIFOR, Avenida Washington Soares, 1321 – Edson Queiroz, Fortaleza – CE, Brazil

Abstract: One of the most significant topics of EU integration is the limits and extension of free movement and residence of a citizen in the territory of another member state. The transitional arrangements secured in the latest rounds of enlargement on the enjoyment of such liberties in an enlarged EU. This paper assesses the current legal framework of these freedoms, in reference to the impact on immigration policy of some members, especially the potential effects of inadequate domestic transposition by states on the exercise of citizenship rights of nomadic gypsies. The author focus on legal nature of citizenship rights of poor Romanian and Bulgarian gypsies to exercise such rights. It is also highlighted that the narrow national interpretations to the nature of citizenship of poor gypsies in the EU violates the scope of rights conferred by European citizenship that is subject to supranational guarantees provided by the EU legal system.

Keywords: European Union; Roma expulsions; free movement; freedom of movement; freedom of residence; Europe; citizens; human rights; xenophobia; discrimination; discriminatory practices; ethnic minorities; EU integration; member states; territories; transitional arrangements; EU enlargement; legal frameworks; immigration policies; domestic transposition; citizenship rights; nomadic gypsies; narrow interpretations; national interpretations; Romania; Bulgaria; poverty; rights violations; supranational guarantees; legal systems; gypsy camps; Treaty of Rome; treaties; liability; scientific enquiry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLSE.2011.041292

International Journal of Liability and Scientific Enquiry, 2011 Vol.4 No.1, pp.91 - 106

Published online: 29 Nov 2014 *

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