Brussels, 22/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 24 June, EU27 heads of state and government are expected to approve the report prepared by the Hungarian Presidency of the Union on ways of improving integration of the Roma population into society. They are also expected to approve the conclusions document of the Council, “An EU Framework for National Strategies for Integrating the Roma until 2020”, which was adopted by the Employment/Social Policies Council on 19 May 2011.
This report from the Hungarian Presidency was sent to the General Affairs Council on 23 May 2011. It contains a summary of the different discussions on the issue of integrating the Roma, which took place in several Justice and Home Affairs Council groupings (from 12 April 2011), Employment/Social Policies (from 19 May 2011) and Education/Youth (from 20 May 2011).
In its draft conclusions, the Council indicates that it is primarily the member states that should devise policies to promote the social and economic integration of the Roma. Action carried out at an EU level should take into account the diversity of the different national contexts and respect the subsidiarity principle. Promoting integration of the Roma is also a common concern of EU member states and it is in their interest to promote integration. Co-operation on these questions at an EU level creates real added value and improves competitiveness, productivity, economic growth and social cohesion. The Council also states that regional aspects should form the basic principle for devising Roma integration policies for education, employment, accommodation and health care, in compliance with the common fundamental principle for “specific but not exclusive targeting” which takes into account the importance of human rights.
The Council also calls on member states to ensure equal access to education, jobs, health care and accommodation so that the division between the marginalised Roma communities and the rest of the population, particularly women, is rectified. It calls on the Commission to continue with the work of the Task Force on the Roma, so that the integration of the Roma is included in all EU policies and so that the role played by EU funds is evaluated in order for Roma integration into the EU and its enlargement policy to be pushed forward.
Finally, the Council calls on the Commission and member states to cooperate closely in keeping with their respective competences, to promote the social and economic integration of the Roma by guaranteeing their legal rights, particularly those pertaining to the rights of Roma victims of human trafficking. The Council also calls for positive changes with regard to attitudes about the Roma, increasing awareness about their culture and identity, fighting stereotypes, xenophobia and racism (EUROPE 10382). (G. B./transl.fl)