Van Rompuy(Head of the EU): 'Winds of populism' threaten free movement

EU Council chief Herman Van Rompuy has spoken out against the "winds of populism" threatening freedom of movement in the Union - a swipe at anti-immigrant discourse in French elections and on the Dutch political scene.

"It is the duty of each government to make sure that no-one - no member of any group or any minority - is treated as a second-class citizen. Regrettably, the winds of populism are affecting a key achievement of European integration: the free movement of persons within our borders," he said in a speech in the Romanian parliament on Wednesday (25 April).

Keeping the EU's inner borders open was a "sign of civilisation," the EU official noted. "In that space, there is no room for stigmatisation of foreigners, as happens in certain countries nowadays," he added.

Van Rompuy's remarks come as French President Nicolas Sarkozy the same day openly said that he plans to woo far-right voters in order to win the second round on 6 May. Observers expect Sarkozy to sharpen up his attacks on the EU passport-free Schengen travel zone in the coming days. He recently said France would quit the scheme unless its rules are made more tough. Last month he also said integration is not working because "there are too many foreigners" in France.

http://euobserver.com/22/116032

If the Socialist Hollande wins the French presidency in a couple of weeks we won't have to worry about what Sarkozy and the National Front think about the EU - at least for a while.