Brussels, 09/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 9 March, the European Parliament voted through a report by Lívia Járóka (EPP, Hungary) by an overwhelming majority (576 to 32 with 60 abstentions) calling for action to counter the exclusion of and discrimination against the Roma minority in Europe, promoting their social, cultural and economic integration, and ensuring better protection of their fundamental freedoms and better use of EU funding. The Commission and Council will be asked to endorse this EU strategy for Roma integration and ensure that it is put into practice at local level. The Commission is due to publish proposals on 5 April, to be adopted by the European Council on 24 June 2011.
The report was the subject of an alternative motion tabled at plenary by the S&D Group. Hannes Swoboda (S&D, Austria) explained that the S&D Group wanted to stress that the strategy would only be successful if there was strong cooperation on the ground. During the debate, Swoboda said that he would withdraw the alternative motion to allow agreement to be reached among the political parties because of the huge work undertaken by Lívia Járóka and simply repeated his party's desire for a “very strong” EU strategy at local level.
After the vote, Járóka told reporters that laws were required to defend Roma rights and the EP had set out its priorities, which were supported across the board. The EP calls for an EU action plan in this domain, wanting EU funding for the Roma and suggesting a crisis management charter to find out exactly where the Roma live in Europe. Járóka explained that most of the Roma live in the EU's poorest countries but the EU strategy would not reach all the Roma in the regions where there are fewer of them. The EP is calling for an approach based not on race but rather on social, economic and social issues, which is more likely to succeed.
When it comes to tangible measures, Járóka highlights access to education as important for the Roma and non-Roma alike, and encouraging cohesion among the Roma themselves. She spoke of sombre forecasts about Roma insertion, saying that astronomical sums of money are called for. She said that research examining the cost of not including the Roma and the cost of training had come up with 19 million forints to integrate the Roma, or 75 million if they are not integrated. Járóka, who represents the Roma at the EP, said everyone had the right to robust education in Europe.
EU funding has to be properly monitored to make sure it is not siphoned off. A new institutional set-up is required to this end and 10 concrete suggestions have been made, explained Járóka. She said the starting point was local authorities and municipalities which will be spending the money provided, from the smallest communities to the higher level. The European Commission should support member states in implementing their insertion policies and monitor implementation of the programmes to ensure the member states can come up with national plans on time. The Commission must also make sure that the member states stick to the rules.
A very important role is played by the media. Controls are made at a higher level but the hard work takes place on the ground at local level by local authorities and municipalities. Fines are useful and necessary but must be properly implemented. Discussion with NGOs is required to see how to operate on the ground and this needs to be a continuous dialogue, commented Járóka.
Better use of EU funding. The European Parliament calls for the creation of EU bodies under the supervision of the existing Roma taskforce to secure EU funding in support of good local initiatives and to identify and report misuse of funds in time. The scope of EU funding should be extended so that projects to improve public services are also eligible. Finally, dedicated funding should be allocated in the cohesion policy to support the strategy. Járóka said that money was available and the Structural Funds were there to be used. In addition, funding needs to be earmarked in the 2013 budget, she said.
See EUROPE 10316 on Livia Jaroka's report. (G.B./transl.fl)