(STRASBOURG) - EU parliamentarians on Tuesday condemned recent violence against the gypsy minority in Italy, reminding Rome of the obligation to uphold European law in its fight against illegal immigration.

Stressing that the attacks "were not isolated events" in Europe, EU Social Affairs Commissioner Vladimir Spidla decried "all forms of violence against the Roma" throughout Europe, rejecting "categorically all stigmatisation and stereotyping of Roma as criminals."

The comments came after two Roma gypsy camps on the outskirts of Naples were the target of petrol bombs attacks last week after local residents were angered by a 16-year-old gypsy's attempt to kidnap an Italian baby.

"Racist violence which feeds off populist politics, speeches inciting hate and media attacks can be seen in several member states," Spidla said during a debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

These "have an obligation to investigate such racist attacks and to punish those who are inciting it and carrying it out," he added.

The new right-wing government of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has announced a crackdown on immigration-linked crime, acting quickly on a campaign pledge that helped it win April polls.

A new tightening of the rules will see any convicted immigrant who is sentenced to two or more years in prison automatically expelled from Italy. Deportation is currently mandatory only for those receiving a sentence of 10 years or more.

The new Italian government may also announce Wednesday the appointment of "special commissioners" with extra powers to deal with the issue of illegal gypsy camps in Milan, Rome and Naples.

However Spidla stressed that "the fight against criminality must take place in clear respect for the rule of law".

"The Roma enjoy the same freedom of movement as other citizens of the (European) Union," and the EU Commission "will ensure that their rights are respected," said Spidla, referring to the Roma minority, of Romanian origin living in Italy.

"An expulsion decision should be taken only on a case-by-case basis," he said, adding that in the case of immediate expulsion "that urgency must be clearly justified".

The head of the Socialist group in the European parliament, German MEP Martin Schulz, said the EU deputies wanted to cooperate with the Italian authorities, not attack them, "on a problem that has existed for a long time and did not appear with the new Italian government".

He spoke of a determination to improve the situation for the threee to four million gypsies scattered throughout Europe.

However several of his fellow euro deputies used less diplomatic language.

Hungarian MEP Viktoria Mohacsi, herself of Roma origin had recently returned from a visit to camps in Rome and Naples. She described their circumstances as "the worst have seen in my life."

"I can't say that my own country is a paradise for the Roma, but at least we have citzenship and we live in houses, despite segregation at schools," added the MEP who has long championed the Roma cause in the European parliament.

Italy, unlike Spain for example, had not sought European funding for Roma integration projects, she continued.

The debate was also marked by heated exchanges between Italian MEPs, reflecting the intensity of the debate in Italy.

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