Guaranteeing safety in Europe – the case of female Roma pickpockets
28.4.2023
Question for written answer E-001411/2023/rev.1
to the Commission
Rule 138
Angelo Ciocca (ID), Paola Ghidoni (ID), Alessandra Basso (ID), Gianantonio Da Re (ID), Isabella Tovaglieri (ID)
Theft, pickpocketing, drug dealing and attacks are now commonplace in Italy and in Europe. As reported in the press, many of these crimes are carried out by Roma women, who often take advantage of the fact that they are pregnant at the time of the crime and avoid going to jail as they receive state protection.
Since 2011, the European Union has implemented ongoing Roma strategies, allocating – in the 2014-2020 period alone – as much as EUR 42 billion for the social inclusion of the largest ethnic minority in Europe. In addition, Italy itself has spent more than EUR 82 million on Roma camps since 2012.
Despite this funding, Roma women continue to steal in the major European capitals, tainting the image of our historical cities. Moreover, by using pregnancy as a shield, they are actually acting against the EU strategy on the rights of the child.
In view of the above:
- 1.What action could the Commission take to combat this phenomenon and guarantee safety in Europe?
- 2.How does it view the possibility of changing the privacy rules to allow people caught in the act of committing a crime to be filmed by members of the public who choose to do so to help the police in their work?
- 3.Does it not consider it necessary to earmark EU funds to compensate the victims of crimes by Roma people, pending their integration into society?
Submitted: 28.4.2023