Roma row: a timeline

28 July: Nicolas Sarkozy, president of France, calls for 300 illegal camps to be cleared within three months.

25 August: Viviane Reding, the European commissioner for justice and fundamental rights, calls on all member states to respect EU rules on free movement and respect for fundamental rights. She says the Commission will analyse the situationin France.

26 August: Telephone conversation between François Fillon, France’s prime minister, and José Manuel Barroso, the European Commission president, to discuss French action.

31 August: Reding and Cecilia Malmström, the European commissioner for home affairs, meet Eric Besson, France’s immigration minister, and Pierre Lellouche, EU affairs minister; tribunal in Lyon blocks deportation of seven Roma.

1 September: Reding presents preliminary analysis of Roma situation to college of European commissioners.

6 September: Malmström attends ministerial meeting in Paris hosted by Besson to discuss illegal immigration.

9 September: Reding attends European Parliament debate on Roma and is criticised by MEPs for delay in presenting analysis. MEPs approve resolution condemning French government treatment of Roma and calling for immediate halt to expulsions.

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13 September: Memo dated 5 August from interior ministry to chief of police is leaked to French media. It urges police to prioritise Roma in clearing illegal immigrant camps.

14 September: Reding makes statement strongly criticising French government.