Brussels, 23/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - At a VIP Corner in Brussels this Monday 23 May, Viviane Reding and Zoltán Balogh welcomed the successful efforts of the Commission and the Hungarian Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers to improve the situation of the Roma, which has worsened in recent years and which the Hungarian Presidency has decided to make its priority.
Initially, there was a joint idea which has been turned into concrete action. Then, concrete solutions had to be found to the very many problems facing the Roma: poverty, social exclusion, discrimination against minorities. The vice-president of the Commission (justice, fundamental rights, citizenship) has tirelessly presented a European framework for national strategies up to 2020. This action framework has shown “where we must go, and has allowed us to start work on the following points: the fight against poverty, bringing Roma children to school to allow them to benefit from quality education and professional training, which should help them to find work and a place in our society”, said Viviane Reding. In order to make all of this a reality, the vice-president reiterated once again the need and importance of “acting at local, regional, national and European level”. She went on to state that she was “delighted that there are adopted conclusions on the table of the Council”.
The Hungarian Minister of State for Social Inclusion Zoltán Balogh, who is certain that the new European framework for the national strategies for the integration of the Roma up to 2020 will help to improve their situation, feels however that it is still not enough. “But it is a big step towards their integration”, he added. We need “comprehensive responses” in matters of employment, education and the fight against discriminations, said the minister of state, who also argues that the situation of the Roma should be taken into account in the broad economic guidelines. Improving the situation of the Roma is not only a challenge but also a solution to allow more citizens to enter the job market. The ultimate goal of the Hungarian Presidency is to bring this strategy to the highest European level. For this reason, the issue will be on the agenda of the June European summit for its final adoption, Zoltán Balogh concluded. (EUROPE 10382) (G.B./transl.fl)