Brussels, 13/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - At its meeting in Naples on Wednesday 11 June, the European Parliament Socialist group adopted a declaration condemning the violent attacks against Roma encampments in Italy. The text was jointly agreed by the Italian and Romanian delegations and expressed their belief that the integration and protection of the Roma minority should be managed at European level.
In the declaration, the signatories - Gianni Pittella for the Italian delegation and Adrian Severin for the Romanian delegation - said that: (1) “It is unacceptable that the Roma minority is still the victim of abuse and discrimination in the territory of the European Union. We urge the European Commission to present an integrated EU strategy setting common standards for all member states on the integration of the Roma, in order to support the action of local communities, national authorities and civil society”; (2) “The Roma have the same citizenship rights and duties as any other individual in the European Union and their rights must be upheld and respected”; (3) “Current trends holding vulnerable and marginalised groups responsible for the worsening of economic, social and security conditions must be rejected”. The two delegations intend to “reaffirm and to safeguard the value and the importance of the friendship and of economic, social and cultural cooperation as well as the strategic partnership that has linked Italy and Romania for a long time”.
At the Employment/Social Affairs Council in Luxemburg on 9 June, Romanian Minster Eugen Nicolaescu raised the issue of the social inclusion of the Roma, and Commissioner Vladimir Spidla announced that his anti-discrimination package would be published by the end of June at the latest (see EUROPE 9681). (G.B./transl.rt)