Raad van Ministers staat achter Roma-strategie (en)

The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council’s (EPSCO) extraordinary meeting, held in Brussels, on 19 May 2011, unanimously backed the EU’s Roma Strategy. The Strategy will be discussed by two other Council formations, and it will finally be adopted by the European Council in June.

The Conclusions adopted by the EPSCO council declare that, “Despite efforts at national, European and international level to advance Roma inclusion, many Roma still face deep poverty, profound social exclusion, barriers in exercising fundamental rights, and discrimination; which often means limited access to quality education, jobs and services, low income levels, sub-standard housing conditions, poor health and lower life expectancy” than the average.

EU framework for national strategies

The EU’s Roma Strategy will provide a framework for Member States’ national Roma integration strategies. National Roma strategies have to concentrate on four areas: the improvement of education, employment, health care and housing conditions. The Conclusions point out that the protection of fundamental rights, notably by combating discrimination and segregation, is essential for improving the situation of Roma.

The adopted text calls on Member States to either prepare a national Roma integration strategies by the end of 2011, or to update their existing strategies.

Heeding local needs

The adopted Conclusions on Roma Strategy states that national approaches to Roma inclusion should be tailored to the specific circumstances and needs on the ground, as the size and the social and economic situation of the Roma population are different in each member state.

National Roma strategies would become controllable

At the follow-up press conference, Minister of State, Zoltán Balog said on behalf of the Hungarian Presidency that the Conclusions “Are basically a political statement where every Member State should undertake to include Roma approaches in their national reform programmes, in preparation within the Europe 2020 Strategy. Therefore, national Roma strategies would become controllable,” highlighted Mr Balog. In their national reform programmes, Member States have to make specific and quantifiable commitments, which are subject to inspection by the Commission, said the Minister of State.

During the press conference, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, László Andor i also stressed that joining the Roma Strategy and the Europe 2020 Strategy, “Provides an opportunity for a rigorous monitoring of the progress of implementation”. “It is very important that the EU play a key role in supporting national efforts,” Mr Andor said.

“Today’s decision was very important, not only for the Presidency, but I hope, also for the European Union.” Mr Balog said. “We have been speaking about the Roma integration for so long now, it’s time for action.” He highlighted that, “All Member States reiterated at the meeting that the Roma Strategy should be implemented without further delay.”

No improvement in Roma situation

“We have to admit that in the last 20 years, the situation of the Roma has gotten worse, rather than better,” said Mr Balog. Mr Andor was of a similar opinion, he said, “The situation has gotten worse in recent years.”

The EU Commissioner voiced his hopes that the Roma Strategy would yield results within the next few years time. “I hope for visible results by half way through the Europe 2020 Strategy,” asserted Mr Andor. Zoltán Balog said that, “Roma integration is a responsibility of Member States, but cooperation at a Union level could be a considerable added value. If we do not improve the situation of the Roma, the problem could reach other Member States as well,” the Minister of State added.

Final decision in June

The Roma Integration Framework Strategy is a major priority of the Hungarian Presidency; therefore, it has put its discussion on the agenda in four Council meetings. The Justice and Home Affairs Council dealt with the matter on 12 April, followed by the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, and the Education, Youth, Culture and Sports Council will discuss the Strategy on 20 May, while the General Affairs Council on 23 May. The Hungarian Presidency will summarise the debates in a Presidency report. A final decision will be made during the meeting of Heads of State and Government in June.