French Minister for European Affairs Laurence Boone states that EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders is not competent to comment on law enforcement in France and the actions of our police. She commented on Reynders’ words regarding “France’s very high level of violence” and the proposal to “think about how to organize policing.”
A wave of riots has broken out in Paris, Marseille and other French cities after a police officer fatally shot 17-year-old Nahel, whose parents are from Morocco and Algeria. The officer is in custody, and the prosecutors charged him with murder.
As per the reports of the Interior Ministry, Rioters set fire to cars, looted shops, and attacked government offices, state schools and other buildings.
Additionally, Six thousand buildings had been set on fire since the beginning of the riots. Over 150 town halls, municipal buildings, schools, cultural centres and cars were damaged. The damage has been estimated at least one billion euros.
Didier Reynders, the European Commissioner for Justice, also voluntarily spoke on Wednesday about the brutal actions of the French police in suppressing the riots.
He stated that “Every time in France we have a very high level of violence, we need to think about how to organize policing,” referring to the “yellow vest” protests, demonstrations against pension reform and recent riots.”
French Minister for European Affairs Laurence Boone expressed that The French government also reacted to Reynders’ words, “I am very surprised because law enforcement is not part of European prerogatives.”
She added Reynders published a report on the rule of law in EU countries on Wednesday, in which there is nothing about the police.
Laurence Boone replied affirmatively, “The situation was dramatic and required reassurance, not minor comments from people who are not competent, so to speak,” when asked whether the EU commissioner exceeded his competencies with this statement and whether he was wrong to express himself in this way.
The French Minister for European Affairs also announced that the government in her country would draw the consequences from the recent riots. She added this problem is not only in France but also in the UK, Denmark and Sweden.
According to Boone, “the actions of one police officer do not reflect the behaviour of the French police, and there is no widespread racism in the police.”
