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Parliamentary question - E-010957/2013Parliamentary question
E-010957/2013

National strategies for Roma integration

Question for written answer E-010957-13
to the Commission
Rule 117
Minodora Cliveti (S&D)

As a Romanian MEP and shadow rapporteur for the report ‘Gender Aspects of the EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies,’ I am requesting your opinion on the recent statements from the French Interior Minister, Manuel Valls, concerning the Roma on French territory.

Manuel Valls recently said, ‘It is illusory to think that the Roma issue can be solved solely via their integration’ and that the only solution is to empty the camps and repatriate the Roma population. The Minister also said that ‘the Roma population is meant to stay in Romania or go back there.’

In view of the fact that the Commission adopted the EU Strategy for Roma Integration in 2011, and that all Member States introduced their national programmes in 2012 launching a series of projects focusing on the Roma in Romania in particular, with France being one of the Member States to declare their support and openness to this approach, the manner in which a French authority figure is expressing himself towards these European citizens is incomprehensible.

The French report highlights the transnational nature of Roma integration projects, which leads directly to the need to consult the Commission.

OJ C 208, 03/07/2014