08/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - On the occasion of the International Roma Day on Wednesday 8 April, several organisations including the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), called for action to be taken against the discrimination from which the Roma continue to suffer. “Our organisations are deeply concerned by the continuing discriminatory treatment and exclusion of the Roma, and particularly by the recent escalation in hate motivated incidents and racist rhetoric reported in a number of states”, the organisations state. “In times of economic crisis, communities such as the Roma, along with migrants and other vulnerable groups, tend to become easy scapegoats for extremist movements and populist politicians”, they add. The FRA will be publishing a report on the situation of the Roma in the EU on 22 April. Half of all Roma answering questions put to them, consider they have been the subject of discrimination at least on one occasion during the past twelve months. (B.C./transl.jl)