The French government believes it may have found a way to limit or exclude migrants from other parts of the EU.
The French parliament is debating bills which would grant new powers to deny entry to such migrants if they are considered a threat to public order or national security.
The two bills on immigration and terrorism seek to ban entry to French territory to those whose personal behaviour would constitute a real, current and serious threat.
The EU executive has not stated an opinion on these proposals, but Jose Manuel Barroso, the EC president, has just warned the UK that controlling migration from within the EU would break EU laws.
Mr Barroso holds that freedom of movement is an “essential” principle.
Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the legislation aims to prevent “the return to France of foreign nationals considered to have carried out an act of terrorism”.
An interior ministry official said the measure would be used case-by-case for people “who endanger the fundamental interests of the nation, not those who engage in begging.”
Civil rights groups have expressed concerns that the wording of the bills is too vague and could be applied against Roma from Romania and Bulgaria.
France has ignored past criticism coming from the EU over its treatment of the Roma. The Socialist government has carried on the policy of demolishing Roma camps and sending their residents back to their home countries that began under the previous centre-right administration.
