French press review 7 October 2013

Europe's relationship with Africa, in the wake of the Lampedusa tragedy as well as the situation of Roma immigrants in France are among the stories in today's press. 

The most recent immigrant tragedy off the coast of the Italian island of Lampedusa has almost completely vanished from the French front pages. Should this come as a surprise? The cynical answer is "no," we've seen this sort of thing before, and will again. Despite Europe's never-ending whinge about crisis and austerity, the old continent still looks like Eldorado if you are poor in Eritrean or Somali terms. Europe's security ministers are to meet tomorrow to discuss the question of immigration in the light of the latest mass drowning.

Catholic La Croix devotes a front-page editorial to the relationship between Europe and Africa, the northern bloc building ever higher walls in an effort to keep out the southerners, who are prepared to take ever greater risks to get in.

Right-wing political parties are brandishing the spectre of the starving hordes at the gates to push moderate voters further out along the spectrum. European governments try to pass the blame along to those responsible for the porous edges of the Schengen Zone, or to the authorities in north Africa, or to the governments in the immigrants' home countries. Visas are increasingly difficult to obtain.

And so, people try to get to Lampedusa, a European island which is closer to Tunisia than it is to Sicily.

La Croix says Europe needs to change the message about the migrants, improve maritime security in the Mediterranean, contribute seriously to development projects in Africa, take action against the mafia who organise the traffic that sometimes leads to a new life in Europe, sometimes to the dark waters off Lampedusa.

The catholic paper's editorial ends with the reminder that the futures of the neighbouring continents are vitally intertwined, and that ageing Europe will soon need the youth and energy so abundant in Africa.

France's Roma population are on the front pages of centrist Le Monde and right-wing Le Figaro.

Le Monde sent a journalist to ask members of the Roma community how they see their future in France. The vast majority voice a determination to integrate into a society which sometimes seems hermetically sealed against them.

Le Figaro looks at the scandal of European Union funds, intended to help the integration of Roma people, being siphoned off by local governments.