From strategies to facts

It is still not a step forward, but at least a "sign of attention". One year after the approval of the European Roma inclusion strategy, the Commission assessed the work done and a lot that still must be carried out. Member States presented their "national strategies" on social, economic and cultural integration of the largest minority group in the Union (10-12 million citizens). "However – as Vice-President of the European Commission, Viviane Reding said – written commitments are not a solution. We must do more". The same straightforward message came from the European Agency for fundamental rights "discrimination and anti-Roma sentiments persist".Strategies on paper. "Member States have to change gear and intensify concrete actions, they need an agenda and a financial plan", Viviane Reding explained a couple of days ago. "We need something more than just strategies on paper: we need clear results from national policies to improve the life of Roma". Poverty, discrimination, ignorance, segregation, prejudice: the European Commission describes the wide-spread situation in the Old Continent, acknowledging however notable national differences, even due to the fact that most Roma live in few states, mainly Hungary, Romania, Spain, Bulgaria followed by France, the Balkans and Italy. On his side, Commissioner for Employment, Social affaires and Inclusion, László Andor, pin pointed at last week’s Strasbourg conference that: "Roma inclusion is mandatory economically and socially but also morally, and touches on the solidarity duty. Brussels’ Commission highlighted some of EU "good practices": Andor mentioned school programmes adopted in Spain, Slovakia and Finland; plans to improve employment in Spain and Bulgaria; streamline access to healthcare in Hungary and Romania: actions taken in housing in France. Sometimes they are just small signs but nonetheless positive.A "gloomy overview". Now we must turn to the European agency for fundamental rights, with offices in Vienna and Bratislava. The Director, Morten Kjaerum, on May 23 disclosed the survey of Roma in 11 EU Member States (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Spain) with the greatest population presence. The report was preceded by a series of 22 thousand interviews to Roma and non-Roma people who live in the same territory. "On average the situation of Roma is worse than their neighbours, family who live close by". According to the report, done in cooperation with the UN Development Program, many Roma are still targets of discrimination and social exclusion throughout the EU. "The results of this report portray a gloomy situation”, Kjaerum said. "Timely and effective action is needed, especially to improve Roma education. This is a critical issue to unleash their future potential and provide youngsters skills to break the vicious circle of discrimination and poverty". The report tackles four main topics: education, employment, housing and healthcare rights.Focusing on schools. "Only 15% of young Roma adults surveyed completed upper-secondary general or vocational education – the European Agency explains – while most of the population in the same area accounts for more than 70%”. Furthermore "less than 30% of Roma have a paid job" and 9 in 10 live below the poverty line; 45% live in houses without kitchens , sanitary services or electricity". Still: "About 49% of those surveyed live in a household where a member went to sleep starving at least once in the last month due to lack of money to buy food". Issues in the Balkans. On the bases of these data, Livia Jaroka, the Hungarian European MP of Roma origin, commented from Strasbourg: "The time has come to move from written strategies to concrete actions, to truly help Roma people. There must be a commitment to favour inclusion of this population, that continues to live at the margins of society". Jaroka stressed on the better usage of community funding ( for example European Social Fund). The MEP also pointed out that "the extremely serious situation in former Yugoslavia countries" where Roma are many. The Balkan states should according to her "invest EU pre-accession funds in inclusion and anti-discrimination activities".