Europees Parlement schaart zich achter integratiestrategie voor Roma (en)

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the EU’s strategy for the European integration of Roma. The Hungarian Presidency welcomed the social advancement of Roma, which lies at the heart of the report. It mainly focuses on reducing segregation.

“We must eliminate stereotypes, generalisations and prejudices if we are to make progress. We need to be aware that the living conditions of Roma varies from place to place”, said Zoltán Balog, Secretary of State for Social Inclusion, at the European Parliament’s (EP) plenary debate on the Járóka Report on 8 March. The report was endorsed by the EP with 576 yes votes, 32 no’s and 60 abstentions on 9 March 2011.

During the debate, Hannes Swoboda i, vice-president of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats, in the EP (S&D), also welcomed the report. “The Hungarian Presidency can view this as one of its successes”, Mr Swoboda said. He added that the S&D will withdraw its alternative proposal and back the Járóka Report.

The adopted resolution outlines a set of proposals on the framework of the EU’s future Roma strategy. Most MEPs agreed during the debate on the draft, that besides a European framework for the various Roma integration strategies of member states, as proposed by the Commission, there is a need for a single, independent and, in some respects, a binding strategy.

It is a major goal for the Hungarian Presidency to make EU institutions to reach an agreement by the end of its six-month term. The EP resolution is a solid basis for a constructive debate, said Mr Balog, adding that the Hungarian Presidency fully supports the Járóka Report. Mr Balog welcomed the report’s special focus on the ending of segregation. “Segregation is a vicious circle that creates rifts in society” he said.

Roma must not be simply objects of the policy

Segregation can cause entire families and communities to live in isolation, while remaining outside the focus of social policy, stressed Mr Balog.

In agreement with the rapporteur, the Hungarian Presidency believes that a part of the solution would be the participation of Roma and their representatives in the making of policies that affect them. “It is important that Roma become actors and not objects of policy making”, said Mr Balog at the plenary session.

Further timetable for Roma strategy

The EU’s two other institutions, the European Commission and the European Council, also need to adopt resolutions on the EU’s Roma strategy. The Commission will present its statement at an EU forum, held on the International Roma Day on 8 April. The Hungarian Presidency will consider the statement to finalise its proposal on a framework for member states’ Roma integration strategies. The proposal will be presented at a meeting of the Labour, Welfare, Health and Consumer Protection Council on 19 May 2011. Concurrently, other Council formations will discuss the Commission’s ideas, followed by the EU foreign ministers at the end of May, with the finishing touches added by heads of state and government in June.