Brussels, 06/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - Wilfried Martens, President of the European Popular Party, has promised the party's support for the initiative to create a European Centre for Gypsies. The idea was mooted by Florian Farkas, leader of the Lungo Drom National Gypsy and Civic Alliance, the main Hungarian Gypsy organisation. At the end of the meeting with Farkas on 5 May in Brussels, Mr Martens asserted that the idea corresponded to EPP priorities which is in favour of a federal but decentralised Europe founded on subsidiarity and the respect for different cultural identities and the dignity of the individual. The former Belgian Prime Minister indicated that he would contact the European Commission, European Parliament and if necessary, the European Council to encourage these measures for integrating minorities. He also welcomed the agreement between Mr Farkas and the two Hungarian coalition parties, the Fidesz and the MDF (which are members of the EPP) and who will be standing ten Gypsy candidates in the elections next April.