Brussels, February 25, 2010 - To Mr. Guillaume Pépy, President of Société nationale chemins de fer France (SNCF)

Dear Mr. President Pépy,

A group of citizens of Romanian nationality, currently living in France, have brought to my attention that a note - which was distributed by SNCF at the beginning of this month – was practically calling the Romanian people thieves and warning train passengers to « redouble their vigilance ».

Moreover, according to the media reports  that published copies of the SNCF note, « all the activities of Romanians should be brought to the attention of PCNS », which are the rail security services.

I am shocked and completely appalled by the content of this note, which is blatantly discriminatory against Romanians, xenophobic, and totally inadmissible.

I am aware that the note was recalled and that SNCF issued a very vague statement of apology , but this is not enough.

Therefore, I believe that the Romanian people – and especially the tens of thousands Romanians currently living in France – deserve also an explicit, direct and sincere apology from you, as the highest representative of the SNCF, as well as from the person/persons directly responsible for drafting the xenophobic note.

I believe that I - as member of the European Parliament, as well as you - as President of SNCF – we both share the responsibility to ensure xenophobia acts and such denigrator messages toward members of any nationality do not multiply.  

I trust that SNCF will take steps to prevent such incidents from happening again.

Sincerely yours,

Renate WEBER

Member of the European Parliament

Romania