Overview

• On July 7, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau sent a circular to all prefects directing them to prevent illicit camps by appointing departmental mediators and enforcing eviction procedures.
• Prefects must name a mediator in each département to engage gens du voyage communities early and curb unauthorized land occupations through dialogue.
• The circular orders systematic use of forced eviction orders whenever local hosting schemes established under the 2000 law are honored but illicit settlements arise.
• Measures draw on 22 recommendations from a parliamentary working group led by Prefect Philip Alloncle and set the stage for a forthcoming bill to revamp the hosting framework.
• Experts note that only 25 of 95 départements comply with the 2000 hosting requirement and recall a 2013 ECHR ruling warning of rights breaches in forced removals.