Europees Economisch en Sociaal Comité: neem Roma op in de Europese samenleving (en)

On Thursday 16 June, at the plenary session of the European Economic and Social Committee two important opinions on Roma were adopted. The Committee, welcoming the EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies set up by the Commission, once again called for a real inclusion of Roma in European society.

In an opinion drawn up by rapporteur Mrs Anne-Marie Sigmund (Various Interests' Group, Austria) the Committee emphasises the importance of an intercultural dialogue as a suitable instrument to achieve integration of Roma, and pointed out the important role that education and Roma women play in this context.

Mrs Sigmund regretted that "there is a mismatch between the good strategic proposals made by the Commission and the inadequate implementing measures adopted so far". She also stressed that "the Committee is willing to help so that this lack of concrete actions can be addressed as soon as possible".

In the context of efforts to ensure better integration of the Roma, Mrs Sigmund added that "it is lamentable that the Community's approach to integration is limited to third-country nationals, and not applicable to the Roma, who are indeed generally EU citizens".

The opinion by Mr Ákos Topolánszky (Various Interests' Group, Hungary) is devoted to the societal empowerment of Roma citizens. The rapporteur welcomed the efforts made by the European Union to reduce segregation of the Roma and stressed that "after two decades of struggles, thanks to the hard work of the Hungarian presidency, the Roma Strategy has finally been presented by the Commission. He added nevertheless that "this long awaited strategy could have been more ambitious, more specific and better structured".

Mr Topolánszky emphasised the importance to involve local civil society representatives and social partners in policy consultation, formulation and implementation, and particularly stressed "the vital need to actively involve representatives and members of the Roma people and communities" in this process.

In the debate that followed, members from all the Committee's different groups unanimously endorsed both opinions and underlined that the Committee wishes to give its full support to the implementation of the Roma strategy, and to guarantee full respect of the European citizenship of Roma and other minorities.