” “The European Commission "expressed its advice on the report sent by the Minister for Home Affairs on 1st August" concerning the census of gypsy camps in Italy. Michele Cercone, spokesman for the European Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security Jacques Barrot, explained to the SIR the speech at today’s press conference in Brussels. According to Cercone, "neither the law, nor the guidelines, nor the implementation conditions" of the census of gypsy camps "can authorise the collection of data based on ethnic origin or religion." The same goes for fingerprinting that has to be carried out "only to identify persons who cannot be identified in any other way." This system also applies to minors "in strictly necessary cases" as stated in the report analysed by the Commission. Mr Cercone pointed out that cooperation with Rome "corrected some measures that could give rise to protests." "Commissioner Jacques Barrot" explained Mr Cercone "asked the Italian government to be informed about the final outcome of the census" and the implementation of the measures included in the so-called "security package". The Commission is open to further information that may shed light on this issue.
