Roma groups cautiously welcome new EU social plan

Speaking in Córdoba, EU Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Viviane Reding highlighted the need for the Old Continent to "look" to its roots and feel "proud" of them, lamenting that the situation of the Roma population has worsened over recent years, something that is "unacceptable". 

Reding said the EU had "sufficient" legal instruments for combating social exclusion, especially among the Roma population, but that these were not being used in the "most effective" way.

The Commission vice-president pointed out that the Roma Education Fund has a budget of 11 million euros this year, adding that, although the Romas' situation will not change "overnight, we must persevere".

Speaking in Córdoba, Spanish Health and Social Policy Minister Trinidad Jiménez said the Commission "pledges to make inclusion of the Roma population one of the objectives of the 2020 strategy, by means of the emblematic initiative, the Platform for Combating Poverty".

She added that "we think it is very positive that Spain's request has been included so that member states analyse the situation of the Roma population in the reports prepared as part of the open method of coordination and in relation to putting the 2020 strategy into practice".

After reiterating the need to make progress on the 10 basic principles of the European Platform on inclusion of the Roma, the minister identified education and employment as priority areas. 

She said school dropout rates among teenagers, which are very high in compulsory secondary education, must be prevented, and greater efforts must be made to get Roma women into work, with only 30% of them currently working outside the home. 

Jiménez said the higher incidence of chronic illnesses among the Roma population required better use to be made of healthcare services. Despite improvements in housing - with nine out of 10 gypsies now living in "normal houses" - there are still large differences in the quality of this housing and the neighbourhoods in which they live.

French State Secretary for European Affairs Pierre Lellouche yesterday (8 April) criticised the lack of concrete steps taken in Europe to end discrimination against the millions of Roma who live there.

"We cannot continue to indulge in statements of principle while we have this massive problem since the enlargement of Europe where we discovered amongst us this 'fourth world' of between nine and 12 million people," he told AFP by telephone from Cordoba where he is taking part in a European Roma summit.

He said that aside from Spanish Minister of Social Affairs, Trinidad Jimenez, "and a Romanian colleague. I have not seen other ministers. I have not seen the political will. I do not hide my disappointment."

European Network Against Racism (ENAR) Director Michaël Privot told EurActiv that “what we need is a comprehensive EU strategy for Roma inclusion that ensures equal opportunities and guarantees equal access to basic services such as education, healthcare and housing”.

He argued that “the strategic approaches proposed in the European Commission’s Communication on Roma inclusion published yesterday are a first step in the right direction. The Roma Summit must now demonstrate that there is real political will to make a step change in the lives of Roma and EU member states must commit to build upon the Commission’s document to develop such a strategy”.