Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-04-27-Speech-3-052"
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"en.20050427.8.3-052"2
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".
Honourable Members, the Commission wishes to thank the European Parliament for having included this item on its agenda, and to acknowledge the key role Parliament plays in protecting the rights of minorities, including the Roma. The presence here today of MEPs that belong to the Roma community serves to highlight the importance of this role.
The fundamental rights upon which the European Union is founded include the principle of non-discrimination. The Roma must be given the chance to participate fully in economic, social and political life, and so we must work together to overcome the centuries of prejudice, discrimination and social exclusion they have suffered. This is an immense task, and it will require us to take coordinated action in a number of fields, in particular those of education, employment, housing and social services. The responsibility for finding a solution to these issues will mainly lie with national bodies and with regional and local authorities, as the latter are where the Roma are most likely to be represented. Although both civil society and the Roma themselves have an important part to play, the situation of the Roma is a European issue that calls for an EU solution. This solution may take various forms.
The Commission is actively monitoring the situation of the Roma in both the European Union and the candidate countries. As part of the preparations for accession, the situation of the Roma and of other minorities is assessed in relation to the political criteria. The Vienna-based European Monitoring Centre pays particular attention to this issue when carrying out research into manifestations of racism and xenophobia in the European Union. A binding legal framework has been established by the EU with the aim of combating discrimination on the basis of race or ethnic origin, and Community regulations currently in force prohibit direct or indirect discrimination in employment, education, social protection, property matters and services. The Commission is working to ensure that these regulations are transposed into national law, and it also backs cultural and educational measures, including special measures for organisations working with the Roma.
The European Union provides substantial funding for measures promoting inclusion of the Roma community. During preparations for accession, over EUR 100 million was allocated under the PHARE programme to projects targeted at the Roma, and the Commission actively helps national bodies to utilise structural funds to promote inclusion of the Roma and other disadvantaged groups. Several other Community programmes encourage exchanges of experience and support specific projects in the fields of employment, education, vocational training and research within the EU and in a number of third countries.
The Commission is keen to ensure that the situation of the Roma is taken into account in all EU programmes and policies that could be significant in this context. To this end, a group has been set up comprising representatives of all the relevant Directorates-General, with the aim of exchanging best practices, coordinating policies and engaging in dialogue with participants from outside the institutions. At the group’s latest meeting, an exchange of information took place with an MEP from the Roma community. The Commission also cooperates with other international organisations working to promote inclusion of the Roma, and is in regular contact with the Council of Europe, the OECD, the World Bank and other major players.
The European Union set itself ambitious goals in the Lisbon Strategy relating to the creation of more jobs, social cohesion and sustainable development. The fact that a large number of our fellow citizens are socially excluded because they belong to the Roma community threatens our ability to achieve these goals. Combating the social exclusion of the Roma in the name of fundamental rights, social cohesion and the social and economic development of the EU is a task for all of us. The Commission wishes to thank Parliament for its support and efforts in this connection."@en1
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