Cameron warns EU to show respect as he lends support to Sarkozy as row over Roma expulsions rages on in Brussels

David Cameron rounded on the European Commission last night over its extraordinary criticism of France’s expulsion of thousands of Roma gypsies – as President Sarkozy said the controversial policy would continue.

The Prime Minister revealed he had tackled the Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso over the issue after the Commission likened the actions of French President Nicolas Sarkozy to those of the Nazis.

Showdown: Relations looked a little frosty between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Romanian President Traian Basescu at a session of the EU parliament today

He said it was vital that commissioners ‘choose their language carefully’ when interfering in the domestic affairs of member states.

But he also warned France that it must not target illegal Roma immigrants on the basis of their ethnic origin.

President Sarkozy, who was involved in an exchange with the Romanian President Traian Basescu at the Commission today, revealed he had had a blazing row with Mr Barroso during lunch at yesterday’s EU summit, which was overshadowed by the Roma issue.

He described the EU’s criticism of France as ‘disgusting and shameful’ – as the unprecedented row between the Commission and the founding member state intensified.

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