22/06/2022
FSG Internacional
On 21 June, the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs of the European Parliament has voted in favour for the inclusion of a European Action Plan to eradicate Roma Settlements up to 2030 proposed amendment included in the Draft motion for a resolution regarding the situation of marginalised Roma communities living in settlements in the EU.
This initiative has been promoted thanks to the collaboration of FEANTSA and Fundación Secretariado Gitano, and we are pleased to learn of its approval. In a short period of time we have held various meetings and assessments on the suitability of its implementation in a coordinated manner with authorities of the European Commission, political groups of the European Parliament and as well as with MEPS. The idea was received positively from the outset, highlighting its suitability to be introduced as one of the amendments to this EMPL Committee resolution.
We strongly believe that this resolution is a significant step towards improving the situation of marginalised Roma communities living in settlements in the EU and adopting a European Action Plan to eradicate Roma Settlements up to 2030 is the way to make this resolution a reality.
The proposed amendment to launch the European Action Plan to eradicate Roma Settlements aims to reinforce “the use of existing policy and financial instruments to that end, providing guidelines, establishing priorities and concrete targets and including a component of transnational cooperation and exchange of positive practices between Member States”.
We hope to see this action plan approved at the vote in plenary of the European Parliament in July 2022.
Finally, the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs asks the Commission a series of questions related to the use of EU instruments and dedicate funding to improve the situation of Roma people living in settlements, on support for the EU Roma Strategic Framework, on safeguarding the rights of Roma children and on supporting and monitoring Member States' actions. The Commission has time to respond to these issues until September this year.
