Brussels, 29/03/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament have adopted by 527 votes in favour, 28 against, with 23 abstentions, the resolution presented by six political groups (EPP, S&D, ALDE, Greens/EFA, GUE/NGL and EFD) on the second European Roma summit in Cordoba (Spain) on 8-9 April. The EP subsequently condemns the recent rise in racism against this ethnic minority in several member states and expresses its concern with regard to discrimination against the Roma in education, shelter, employment, health care access and under-representation in politics.
The Parliament is requesting that: 1) the Commission: develops a comprehensive European strategy for Roma inclusion and tackles social exclusion and discrimination against the Roma in Europe; analyse and evaluate the social effects obtained so far with regard to Pre-accession Funds and Structural Funds for Roma integration and draw conclusions as to whether new strategies or rules are necessary; 2) urge new European Commissioners to prioritise Roma linked issue and within their remits and 3) call for political commitments to be made during the second European Roma Summit.
While welcoming the adoption of this resolution, Nicole Kiil-Nielsen (Greens/EFA, France) regretted the absence of awareness of this issue in the final resolution, contrary to what her group had advocated. She noted that, “the problems experienced by Roma women are particularly shocking and partly specific, in terms of unwanted pregnancies, for example”. In a reference to statistics from Médecins du Monde (in France, one in two Roma (43%) have already had abortions by the age of 22, the average age of a first pregnancy is 17 and only 10% of Roma have access to contraception). Iii-Nielsen insisted that this factor should be transversal in all policies, particularly public health. She concluded by expressing her hope that the Cordoba summit would have ambitious perspectives for Roma women. (G.B./trans/rh)