Terry Reintke, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Madam President, I would like to tell you a story: a story about two brothers, two Roma brothers. They are about my age and grew up in a city very close to my home town. Their family came from Kosovo. When they were in their mid-20s they were deported from Germany back to Kosovo – from their home back to a country they almost did not know. They were separated from their families, their friends and their lives. Their names are Kefaet and Selami. They are two brothers, two very talented musicians who have now found their way back home and have expressed their hardship in rap music.
They are two among many who have faced discrimination in the European Union, but they are also two among many Roma and this is what we very often forget when we speak about the Roma who have resisted, and who have found a way to deal with this hardship and to say that they want to fight against anti—Gypsyism in our societies. Not only that, they want to fight for a better life, for civil rights for all, for their families, for prospects and for equality in our societies. They should be an inspiration to all of us, not only on International Roma Day, but every day, because they will be amongst the people who will shape our societies in the future.
Do not be mistaken: the fight against anti-Gypsyism and against discrimination is not just something that the Roma communities have to take care of. It is something that all of us have to work for because this is not only about the livelihoods and the well-being of Roma communities; this is about our democracy. This is about whether we want to live in equal societies, so this is about our future as well. I urge you, Commissioner and all my colleagues, let us stand up against any form of anti-Gypsyism in our societies and fight side by side with the Roma people for a future of equality and democracy in the European Union.