Brussels, 13/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - Promoting awareness, taking action and demonstrating that cooperation between all member states is a means to develop an effective response. This goal was expressed by the Hungarian Presidency through the voice of the country's prime minister, Viktor Orbán, during the fifth annual European Platform for the integration of the Roma, held in Budapest on 7-8 April. The European Roma Platform has been an important milestone in the development of this framework strategy and every stakeholder affected by Roma integration is represented on the platform: NGOs, human and minority rights advocates, official agencies and Roma experts from member states. The summary of the discussions will be included in the conclusions by the ministers of employment and social affairs, which is to be adopted at the Council meeting on 19 May. Ideas from member states regarding the implementation of the framework strategy will also be included in this document.
In his speech, the Hungarian prime minister stated that we could approach the integration of the Roma population in Europe from two sides. One is from the ethnic side, while the other concerns the conditions of deep poverty and associated unemployment. The head of government emphasised that it was “intolerable that there are people living in the cradles of Western civilisation, whose living conditions are much closer to the conditions of countries with substantially weaker economies than to those existing in their own neighbours. We feel the pain of these people and their children, in the economies where they face numerous problems anyway”. The Hungarian prime minister added that “the missing children are here, within our borders. They speak the same language as us, call God by the same name, and their culture is much closer to ours than the cultures of other immigrant nations.”
Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Viviane Reding described the European Framework for Roma Integration Strategies of Member States presented by the Commission on 5 April as “beyond all expectations” and the beginning of a new future (EUROPE 10352). In the next few months, ministers from member states will discuss the framework document with four bodies of the Council in an effort to develop political consensus during the June European Council. Nevertheless, Commissioner Reding warned that “until June, a great number of member states will attempt to water down this document”. She added that “the prevention of any such attempt is the task and responsibility of Roma organisations. Vice-President of the Commission Viviane Reding explained that the framework strategy adopted by the Commission is a “very good and very strong document. It is up to you, whether it will stay that way or get watered down”. (G.B./transl.fl)