Brussels, 26/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - Two years after the adoption of national integration strategies, member states still have to step up their efforts to ensure the successful integration of the Roma population into society and eradicate the discrimination they suffer in the fields of accommodation, education and employment.
That is the message delivered in Brussels on Wednesday 26 June by the commissioner for justice, Viviane Reding and the commissioner for social affairs, Laszlo Andor, who are in charge of this matter. They were speaking at the presentation of a progress report on the national strategies and a specific recommendation to member states. Although Reding does not deny that some progress has been made and welcomed several positive initiatives taken, such as police training in Spain with regard to issues involving the Roma and even the co-operation between national and local authorities in France, the problem lies in the involvement of civil society, including Roma associations, and in implementation of strategies, the Commission says. The funding allocated to this integration objective, which effectively constitutes the recommendation's goal, is also insufficient.
Commissioner Reding explained that “if member states are serious about their national strategies, they need to move up a gear on Roma integration”. She also pointed out that the recommendation to the Council is the EU's “first legal instrument” on integration of the Roma and therefore called on member states to take positive action measures to bridge the gap between the Roma and the rest of society, particularly with regard to accessing education, jobs, health care and accommodation. The recommendation also calls on states to allocate European funds, as well as funds from national resources, the private sector, charities and all other possible areas of funding, to promote the integration of the Roma. The Commission explains that “this should be facilitated by allocating an adequate share of EU cohesion policy resources to investment into people through the European Social Fund, and allocating at least 20% of this amount in each member state on social inclusion”. In order for this draft recommendation from the Council to enter into force, it will need to be unanimously adopted by member states. (SP/transl.fl)