MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
23.1.2008
pursuant to Rule 108(5) of the Rules of Procedure
by Roberta Angelilli, Adam Bielan and Ewa Tomaszewska
on behalf of the UEN Group
on a European strategy on the Roma
B6‑0056/2008
European Parliament resolution on a European strategy on the Roma
The European Parliament,
– having regard to Article 13 of the EC Treaty, which enables the European Community to take appropriate action to combat discrimination based on racial or ethnic origin,
– having regard to its resolution of 27 January 2005 on remembrance of the Holocaust, anti‑semitism and racism,[1]
– having regard to its resolution of 28 April 2005 on the situation of the Roma in the European Union,[2]
– having regard to its resolution of 1 June 2006 on the situation of Roma women in the European Union,[3]
– having regard to its legislative resolution of 29 November 2007 on the proposal for a Council Framework Decision on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law,[4]
– having regard to Articles 6, 7 and 29 of the Treaty on European Union and Article 13 of the EC Treaty, which commit the EU and its Member States to upholding human rights and fundamental freedoms and provide European means to fight racism, xenophobia and discrimination, to the European Charter of Fundamental Rights and to the Statute of the Fundamental Rights Agency,
– having regard to international human rights conventions which prohibit discrimination based on racial and ethnic origin, notably the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the European Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR), both signed by all the EU Member States,
– having regard to Directives 2000/43/EC implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin[5] and 2000/78/EC establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation,[6] as well as to the Framework Decision on combating racism and xenophobia,[7]
– having regard to Rule 108(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the Roma are the largest minority in Europe,
B. recognising that some progress has been achieved in combating discrimination against Roma regarding their right to education, employment, healthcare and housing in both Member States and candidate countries,
C. whereas education is a fundamental tool in combating social exclusion, exploitation and crime,
D. whereas Romani communities are often involved in criminal matters, particularly in connection with human trafficking and child slavery,
E. whereas the Roma are still subject to discrimination as regards the right to employment,
F. whereas the EU has a variety of mechanisms and tools that can be used to improve the access of the Roma to high-quality education, employment, housing and healthcare, in particular social-inclusion, regional and employment policies,
G. whereas sanctions should be applied to Member States in the event of infringements of the national provisions adopted pursuant to Directive 2000/43/EC, in particular as far as conditions for access to employment, vocational training, social protection and education are concerned,
H. noting in particular the extreme situation of many Romani individuals and communities in the new Member States,
1. Welcomes the conclusion of the European Council of 14 December 2007 which states that ‘conscious of the very specific situation faced by the Roma across the Union, invites Member States and the Union to use all means to improve their inclusion’ and ‘invites the Commission to examine existing policies and instruments and to report to the Council on progress achieved before the end of June 2008’;
2. Condemns all forms of racism and discrimination faced by the Roma and others regarded as ‘gypsies’;
3. Stresses that the problem of discrimination against the Roma requires a comprehensive approach at EU level, while acknowledging that the primary investment of political will, time and resources in addressing this issue lies with the national governments of the Member States;
4. Urges the European Commission to develop a European Framework Strategy on Roma Inclusion that aims to provide policy coherence at EU level as regards the social inclusion of the Roma, particularly Roma children;
5. Reiterates that equal access to high-quality education should be included in the policy aims of the EU strategy; urges the Commission to support specific actions for Romani minors in the Member States aimed at combating exploitation, forced begging and school absenteeism and integrating Romani children into mainstream education from an early age;
6. Calls on the Council, Commission and Member States to support national programmes aimed at improving the health situation of the Romani communities, and particularly at providing an adequate vaccination programme for children;
7. Urges the Commission to support the integration of Roma into the labour market through measures including rigorous enforcement of anti-discrimination laws in the field of employment;
8. Urges the Member States to adopt slum upgrade policies and develop positive statutory obligations to end homelessness and solve the problem of camps, where there are no hygiene and safety standards at all and where a large number of Romani children die in domestic accidents, particularly fires, caused by a lack of proper safety standards;
9. Calls on the Roma to respect human rights, in particular with regard to women and children, avoiding forced marriages, traditional practices and forced begging;
10. Calls on the Member States to facilitate cooperation, coordinate joint actions and exchange best practice;
11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Governments of the Member States and the Council of Europe.
- [1] Texts adopted, P6_TA(2005)0018.
- [2] Texts adopted, P6_TA(2005)0151.
- [3] Texts adopted, P6_TA(2006)0244.
- [4] Texts adopted, P6_TA-PROV(2007)0552.
- [5] OJ L 180, 19.7.2000, p. 22.
- [6] OJ L 303, 2.12.2000, p. 16.
- [7] OJ C 75 E, 26.3.2002, p. 269.