France was "astonished" at the criticism from the European Commission (EC) over local policy on Roma people or the Gypsies, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday, but refused further argument concerning the issue.

The ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said France was "astonished" to know the declaration of Viviane Reding, the European Commissioner for Justice and Citizen Rights, but France didn't think "this kind of declaration can help to ameliorate the situation of the Roma."

He said the Roma people's welfare was already "at the heart of our concern," and French government wouldn't like to see further argument on the issue.

The top EU justice official, unhappy with France's dismantling and exclusion of Roma people in August, called French attitude to the Roma "a disgrace" at a press conference earlier Tuesday and announced to open infringement proceedings against Paris.