12/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - At the Employment/Social Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 9 June, Romanian Minister Eugen Nicolaescu raised the thorny issue of the social inclusion of the Roma. Commissioner Vladimir Spidla said he felt the situation of the Roma was unacceptable from the ethical, social and human points of view and constituted a threat to social cohesion in Europe. He said that not only discrimination against individuals but also the social exclusion of a whole ethnic group had to be combated, and he announced that his “anti-discrimination package” would be published before the end of June. Romania hopes this package will inform the Council's future discussions on this issue. (G.B./transl.rt)