Brussels, 19/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 19 May in Brussels, EU employment and social affairs ministers adopted conclusions on a European framework for national Roma integration strategies up to 2020 as well as the opinion of the committee on social protection (see EUROPE 10361). Their aim is to improve the situation of the Roma on member state territories as Roma are still faced by deep poverty, profound social exclusion, barriers in exercising fundamental rights, and discrimination. This often means limited access to quality education, jobs and services, low income levels, sub-standard housing conditions, poor health and lower life expectancy. Such a situation affects not only the Roma but also has an economic cost for society as a whole, including through the waste of human capital and ensuing loss of productivity. It is for this reason that Hungarian Minister of State Zoltan Balog has called for investment to be made in social policy so that “our citizens may benefit from social and employment structures”.
Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding (responsible for justice, fundamental rights and citizenship) said the challenge of Roma socio-economic integration was enormous and that integration was in the interest of all countries. She said it was also a matter of respect of fundamental rights. At the European Parliament's behest, the Commission will report on how the situation is developing, with the assistance of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, Reding confirmed.
Commissioner Lázsló Andor (employment, social affairs and inclusion) welcomed the Council's conclusions which, he said, pave the way for moving forward and demonstrate the need for action to be taken at national, regional and local levels. He said this was not the end of a process but the beginning of implementation and that the conclusions show their commitment in favour of the Roma. Andor pointed out that the EP had, in March, made a substantial contribution towards addressing the problem and that the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) will adopt an opinion next week on the social inclusion of the Roma. On the basis of national strategies for Roma inclusion, the Commission is preparing a report on their integration which will be presented next spring, Andor said. By the end of 2011, the two commissioners say they will present sound and convincing strategies.
In its conclusions, the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) invites member states to: (1) integrate in their NAPs (national action plans) not only the Roma but also all vulnerable groups in society, and to monitor progress made along these lines; (2) prepare, update or develop their national Roma inclusion strategies by the end of 2011; (3) ensure, where appropriate, that available EU funds are used in line with national, regional and local Roma inclusion policies; (4) identify and implement necessary measures for improving access to and ensuring the effective use of EU funds for the social and economic inclusion of Roma; (5) appoint a national contact point in order to ensure effective monitoring of the Roma inclusion strategies; and (6) promote the active involvement of Roma civil society and all other stakeholders, including at the regional and local levels, in policies to advance Roma inclusion. EPSCO invites the Commission to: continue the work of the Roma Task Force, so as to mainstream Roma inclusion within all EU policies. It calls on the Commission and member states (in close cooperation and in accordance with their respective competences) to: (1) ensure that the various EU funds available work together in a more integrated and flexible manner in the future, providing an appropriate framework for integrated, long-term actions for advancing Roma inclusion; (2) improve the implementation and strengthen the effectiveness of EU funds used in favour of marginalised and disadvantaged groups; (3) strengthen the role of the European Platform for Roma Inclusion, thereby intensifying the exchange of best practice between member states; (4) foster positive changes in attitudes towards Roma by improving public awareness of Roma culture and identity and combating stereotypes, xenophobia and racism; and (5) promote the empowerment, active involvement and necessary participation of Roma themselves at all levels of policy development, decision making and implementation of measures, including by raising awareness of their rights and duties, and consolidating the capacity of Roma NGOs and encourage the better involvement of civil society and all other stakeholders.
During the debate, Poland (which is to take over presidency of the EU Council in July) said it would follow the initiatives already implemented by the Commission and ensure effective use of European funding at national, regional and local levels. It will focus on work for the protection of childhood and for teachers. Poland seized this opportunity to announce a day of Auschwitz Holocaust commemoration, on 2 August, the date when the Roma part of the concentration camp was closed. Estonia and Italy welcomed the Council's “balanced” conclusions. Spain and Belgium underlined that the vicious circle of inter-generational poverty should be broken. Regarding education, all Roma must receive a “good basic education”, to heighten confidence not only amongst themselves but also with other ethnic peoples, Sweden states.
France called for respect of the fundamental rights of women and for the condition of Roma women and girls to be improved. France, the Czech Republic, Belgium and the Netherlands called for better use of structural funds, especially from the ESF and ERDF (for housing and difficult access to public places). In the context of the ESF, Italy's action aims to lift any discrimination in the convergence regions, among others. Slovakia is to set up communal centres where vocational training may be carried out with ESF financial support of €20 million.
The Finnish programme, adopted in 2009, matches the Commission's proposals. There are 10-12,000 Roma in Finland and the Council's conclusions will allow Helsinki to establish a real strategy for inclusion of the Roma. In Portugal, there are already Roma mediators, which facilitates intercultural dialogue. Italy has a national anti-discrimination body for the Roma. Austria has recognised the Roma since 1995 as an ethnic group in its own right. (G.B./transl.jl)