Fingerprinting of Gypsies in Italy backed

ROME, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- The European Commission has given its official backing to the proposed fingerprinting of all Roma Gypsies in Italy, an official says.

Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot's spokesman confirmed that the international organization is supporting the controversial measure that is aimed at limiting crime throughout Italy, the EU Observer said Thursday.

The unidentified spokesman also denied critics' allegations that the fingerprinting plan was an instance of ethical discrimination, saying the actions would be conducted under strict conditions.

EU officials had opposed the concept of garnering additional information on the estimated 160,000 Gypsies in Italy. Yet Barrot's representative told the Observer that a compromise on the issue was reached thanks to cooperation between the commission and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government.