Text tabled : B7-0492/2010, RC-B7-0493/2010

  Silvia-Adriana Ţicău (S&D), in writing. – (RO) I voted for the joint motion for a resolution on the situation of Roma and on freedom of movement in the European Union as I believe that the situation of roughly 10-12 million Roma requires a European integration strategy for them. Free movement of persons is one of the EU’s fundamental principles. European citizens of Roma origin, regardless of their nationality, also have the right to move around the EU freely. They, like any European citizen, have both rights and obligations. If a person, regardless of their ethnic origin and nationality, commits offences, they will face the full force of the law. However, there is no nationality or ethnic group associated with criminality. I believe that a whole ethnic group or population of a country cannot and must not be stigmatised by actions committed by some of their members. The Treaty of Lisbon gives binding legal effect to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Article 2 of this document clearly states that the EU is based on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, as well as respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. I believe that the EU and Member States have a shared responsibility to promote Roma integration via an EU Roma strategy.