Brussels, 04/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi, who will chair the General Affairs Council in the first half of 2011 (Hungarian Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers) intends to put the issue of Roma integration high on his country's European agenda. “The aim is not to relieve member states of their responsibility but we need a European strategy on the economic and social integration of the Roma,” Martonyi said in the Frankfurther Allgemeine Zeitung of 4 November. “That is why we have put this issue right at the top of our list of priorities” for the Presidency, he went on. The teaching and education of Roma children is one avenue to be explored as a matter of priority, he suggested.
Defence of the CAP. Martonyi also defended the common agricultural policy (CAP) at a time when the EU is beginning its debate on the next multiannual financial framework (2014-2020). “Some member states where agriculture does not have a major role want to get rid of the common agricultural policy. We, however, believe that this policy is of the utmost importance. 22 member states support the CAP in principle, though with certain amendments. Just like Hungary, these countries see an element of culture, of a style of life, of food security and of maintenance of the viability of rural areas in the CAP,” the minister said. (H.B./transl.rt)