Commission wants Roma NGOs involved in spending EU funds

The European Network Against Racism called for “a real commitment” by the EU and its member states to take the fight against “anti-Gypsyism” seriously. Chibo Onyeji, chair of ENAR, said: “We are witnessing alarming incidents of anti-Roma rhetoric at the highest political level in many European countries. How can the National Roma Integration Strategies put forward by EU member states be properly implemented if public figures representing the government make openly racist statements? What we need is a concrete commitment by Member States and the European Commission to publicly condemn statements inciting violence and racism and preventing Roma from participating fully in European society. If the European Union wants to ensure ‘inclusive growth’, it cannot remain silent to such hateful statements.”

MEP Lívia Járóka (EPP, Hungary), the only Roma member of the European Parliament, said on International Roma Day on 8 April: "I truly hope that the framework will be able to overcome its early shortcomings, since after the clear and very disappointing failure of the Decade of Roma Inclusion initiative, it would be an irreparable mistake to let the European Framework be downgraded into superficial window-dressing, while we are losing another generation of Roma who sink deeper into social exclusion. And in these times of economic crisis, when the very functioning of the EU is being put to the test, it is even more important to lift those obstacles that vulnerable and marginalized communities encounter and to help them gain full access to their rights as EU citizens." 

British MEP Graham Watson, president of the ALDE party, said: "Roma people still face a serious range of discriminations, all leading to the vicious cycle of social exclusion. To break this cycle and improve integration we must favour and ensure education to younger Roma generations. After all education is one of the best means to improve employment prospects and quality of life, to reduce poverty and ultimately to boost integration.

"Roma children of today will be entering the labour market in 2020 when we will hopefully see the fruits of the EU framework for National Roma Integration Strategies. The cycle should be broken now and not in 2020."

Jorge Nuño-Mayer, secretary-general of Caritas Europe, said: “Across Europe, real progress in improving the living conditions and opportunities for Roma remains limited. Especially in certain countries, a high proportion of Roma persons are affected by extreme poverty and social exclusion. The Roma are the most marginalised ethnic group in Europe, facing deep social problems related to low educational levels, high unemployment, inadequate housing, poor health and wide-ranging discrimination, all of which are interrelated and create a vicious cycle of social exclusion. The situation is worsening due to the current economic crisis and the growth of racist discourses and movements”.

Ivan Ivanov, who heads the European Roma Information Office in Brussels, said: “Whilst Europe deals with the financial crisis, it is important that on days such as this the national governments and the institutions of the EU and its candidate countries hear the voices of Roma people. For Europe to prosper, it must stay true to its values and ensure that equality in every field applies to all communities, not just the majority.”