Strasbourg, 09/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - In response to a speech made by a number of MEPs on Wednesday 9 October in Strasbourg, Viviane Reding, the European Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, pointed out that the Roma are, “human beings… and as such have the same rights and responsibilities as any other citizen”. She added that this meant European leaders had the same responsibilities to the Roma as they did to all other Europeans.
Many of the MEPs who spoke expressed concerns about how funding was directed but especially how funding was used to help the poorest members of society and protect minorities.
Véronique Mathieu Houillon (EPP, France) called for, “strict and robust follow-up” in this connection and her French colleague from the S&D, Sylvie Guillaume, urged the Commission to implement “effective monitoring” to ensure funds went to where they were needed. Quoting Livia Jaroka (EPP, Hungary), who estimated that 10% of European funds did not arrive at their destination, Reding advocated the need for co-ordinated multilevel action: European, national and regional; and acknowledged that, “integration of the Roma is not an easy thing” and that all the main stakeholders in the process needed to be involved.
Cristian Dan Pedra (EPP, Romania) regretted that the Roma community did not really have a representative and could therefore not speak for itself, which resulted in the Roma being “marginalised” and “any old thing being said” about the subject.
In addition to the responsibility that European decision-makers should assume, Mathieu advocated tolerance as the second watch word that the EU should promote in an effort to improve the situation of the Roma in Europe. Several MEPs said that they were shocked by the recent discovery of a register existing in Sweden that identified more than 4,000 Roma exclusively on an ethnic basis. Anna Hedh (S&D, Sweden) said that she was concerned that with such a register they had really, Ireached rock bottom” and she was alarmed by the fact that the police could subsequently take such action without any control being exerted upon them in this context.
Arguing tooth and nail on behalf the Swedish government, Anna Maria Corazza Bildt (EPP, Sweden) underlined the public apologies it had made when the affair became public and provided assurances that, “the results will be made public and those responsible will have to explain themselves in the courts in Sweden”. This register was compiled by the Swedish police in 2011 and there were a significant number of children on it. It was after this affair that a number of MEPs called for a debate on the Roma, which took place this Wednesday in Strasbourg.
Mikael Gustafsson (GUE/NGL, Sweden) said that, “we have to fight against structural discrimination” because it is the, “current situation that keeps the Roma in poverty” and prevents their inclusion into society. A relatively similar message was echoed by Corina Cretu (S&D, Romania) who said that there was no point demonising either the Roma or the countries of origin, when some MEPs were reporting thefts from areas close to Roma camps. At the end of the debate, Commissioner Reding said, “I'm ashamed to be in the EP building when I hear certain things said”. (EL/transl.fl)