A war of words over France's actions overshadowed an EU summit in Brussels and hijacked its main goal of forging a common EU front on the global stage.
Sarkozy insisted France's expulsions of Gypsies, or Roma, are a matter of security. He called more than 100 Roma camps dismantled in France in recent weeks havens of crime and undignified living conditions.
"We will continue to dismantle the illegal camps, whoever is there," Sarkozy said. "Europe cannot close its eyes to illegal camps."
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, left, speaks with Romania's President Traian Basescu during a round table meeting at an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2010. A summit of government leaders seeking to mold a united European Union front on the global stage opened in disarray over France's expulsion of Gypsies and comparisons with World War II deportations.
Sarkozy had what participants called a heated exchange with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso over the expulsions, and later lashed out at EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding for comparing the expulsions to deportations during World War II.
"I am head of state. I cannot let my nation be insulted," he told a news conference afterward.
"Reding has apologized for her deeply offensive remarks," he said. "But the totality of the heads of state and government said it was profoundly shocking that one would speak in this way, with historical references that were deeply hurtful to the entirety of our compatriots."
Reding's office has said she expressed regret over the wartime comparison, but maintained her threat to take France to court for targeting an ethnic group in the expulsions. France deported some 76,000 Jews from France to Nazi concentration camps, and interned thousands of Gypsies in camps in France during the war.
The issue dominated the summit though it wasn't officially on the agenda, and made the other European leaders uneasy.
"You should, of course have the right to remove people from your country is they are there illegally but it should never be done on the basis of an ethnic group," British Prime Minister David Cameron said after the meetings. But he added, "Members of the commission have to chose their language carefully."
Sarkozy said the European Commission should come up with some Europe-wide solutions
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, center, walks behind Romania's President Traian Basescu, left, prior to a group photo at an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2010. A summit of government leaders seeking to mold a united European Union front on the global stage opened in disarray over France's expulsion of Gypsies and comparisons with World War II deportations.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, center, puts her hand between European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, left, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy during a group photo at an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2010. A summit of government leaders seeking to mold a united European Union front on the global stage opened in disarray over France's expulsion of Gypsies and comparisons with World War II deportations.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, second left, walks with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy during an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2010. A summit of government leaders seeking to mold a united European Union front on the global stage opened in disarray over France's expulsion of Gypsies and comparisons with World War II deportations.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, left, speaks with Romania's President Traian Basescu during a round table meeting at an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2010. A summit of government leaders seeking to mold a united European Union front on the global stage opened in disarray over France's expulsion of Gypsies and comparisons with World War II deportations.
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