“Roma communities deserve to be treated equally and to enjoy their full rights as Europeans”. In a joint statement published on Monday 7 April, on the eve of International Roma Day, the Executive Vice-President responsible for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu, the Commissioner responsible for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, and the Commissioner responsible for Enlargement, Marta Kos, reaffirmed Europe’s commitment to fighting discrimination against this community, which represents the largest ethnic minority in Europe, with 6 million inhabitants in the EU.
And with good reason: according to figures put forward by the European Commission, “80% of Roma are at risk of poverty”, compared to the overall average risk level of 17% in the EU.
Although the Commission has put in place a ten-year ‘EU Roma Strategic Framework for Equality, Inclusion and Participation 2020-2030’ (see EUROPE 12576/9), there is still a long way to go and efforts need to be stepped up. In this respect, the commitment of both the Member States and the candidate countries is crucial.
To read the statement: https://aeur.eu/f/gb1 (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)