Just 6km from the Strasbourg hemicycle where MEPs discuss the fate of French Roma, we met Roma families who are living in very basic conditions.

Roma at the heart of Europe

While the Roma issue is discussed in  the EP in Strasbourg this Tuesday

a few kilometers away live six Roma  families in very basic conditions.

But life here is better than in Romania,  their country of origin.

The only income we receive in Romania  is child support,

Three people can’t live off €10 per month.  It’s not even enough to buy the child food.

Mihaela set up home in France three  years ago with her husband and her son.

They’ve been expelled  several times before.

The French government justifies these  expulsions citing European law.

Freedom of movement  is limited to three months

and if citizens cannot justify their stay  at the end of the three-month period,

it’s logical that we ask them  to return home.

In 2007 Romanians and Bulgarians  did not obtain the automatic right

to work anywhere in  the European Union.

They may have to wait until 2014  to obtain this right.

Two weeks ago the police visited  the campsite to take their photos.

With this dated evidence, if they remain  here their deportation is guaranteed.

For this Romanian MEP,    repatriation is not the answer.

The only solution is to give  this ethnic group the right to education,

particularly for children  who are the future of this group.

13-year old Aurel is an excellent pupil.

He dreams of becoming a baker  - in France.

Whether he’ll be able to will depend on  the outcome of this European debate.