European Parliament backs report to fight Roma discrimination and antigypsyism [editar]
On 25 October, MEPs backed the report presented by Soraya Post on “Fundamental rights aspects in Roma integration in the EU: fighting antigypsyism”
25/10/2017
FSG international
The EP report intends to bring to the attention of the EU Institutions and its Member States the situation of discrimination and antigypsyism the Roma community faces across Europe. The Report, that was approved with 470 votes in favour, 48 against and 103 abstentions, calls for compliance with existing EU rules in order to put an end to it.
Many of the estimated 10-12 million Roma living in Europe see their fundamental rights violated every day. Antigypsyism is a specific form of racism, whereby the Roma people are victims of discrimination, violence and hate speech.
In spite of the legislative advances made, Member States often fail to fulfill their responsibilities in the effective implementation of Fundamental Rights. For this reason, Roma people frequently face more difficulties to access public services. Sometimes, they are also victims of the segregation policies and practices, and also discrimination.
To tackle this situation, the Swedish MEP, Soraya Post has presented a Motion for a European Parliament Resolution to fulfil the Fundamental Rights of the Roma community. The document urges both the European authorities and the Member states to adopt specific measures in six fields of action:
- Tearing down stereotypes. To achieve this aim, it is necessary to break down stereotypes in every respect of human life –in the media or education, among others-. Furthermore, the report asks to put into effect long-term raising-awareness campaigns. The report also urges Member States to boost the consultations with Roma representatives and NGO´s working on this matter.
- Reconciling and building trust. The document urges to commemorate the 2nd of August as the Roma Holocaust Memorial Day. It also calls on the European Commission to create a truth and reconciliation commission at the EU, and it also demands the Member States to create similar mechanisms in their own countries.
- Carrying out performance checks, in order to assess if the implementation of the EU programs fulfil with the principle of non-discrimination. In this sense, the report considers important to improve the funding opportunities and to guarantee that the EU funding programs improve the living conditions of the Roma community. Among other measures, the document urges the European authorities and Member States to guarantee policies towards the Roma community, fighting discrimination, segregation and antigypsyism, and also improving the living conditions of the Roma people.
- Securing equal rights and fighting antigypsyism. The report considers the social inclusion of Roma must be based in preventing segregation and promoting the access and enjoyment of economic and social rights. It recommends working in the fields of education and housing, as well as fostering employment and job training policies with a positive impact. It proposes to work for achieving equal access to justice and preventing criminalisation of the Roma people. It also calls on the European Commission to launch infringement proceedings against the Member States that not fulfil the European Directives on Equal Treatment, as the Racial Equality Directive, among others.
- Monitoring the National Roma Integration Strategies. The report shows its concern about the inefficiency of the National Roma Integration Strategies in the improvement of the living conditions of the Roma community. For this reason, urges the European Institutions and national authorities to work in order to include new forms to monitor the implementation of their policies. It also asks the Member states to work more efficiently to advance in fighting against antigypsyism, discrimination and marginalisation, as well as to work for the integration of the Roma population and the compliance of their rights.
- Putting antigypsyism at the forefront of an improved post-2020 Strategy. Collaboration between Member States, NGO´s, and European Institutions is crucial to set up these issues in the European Agenda, and to keep them in the post-2020 Strategy scenario.
FSG considers very positive the support of the EP to this report, as it gives visibility to the problem of antigypsyism across Europe. It also provides a thorough analysis of all fields in which Member States should work to combat discrimination and promote equality of rights. It should be highlighted that FSG has been involved in the drafting of this report, as fighting discrimination and antigypsyism is one of our main priorities of action.
MEP Soraya Post in the October-EP-Plenary
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