Progress made in the implementation of National Roma Integration Strategies

17.10.2013

Question for oral answer O-000117/2013
to the Commission
Rule 115
Juan Fernando López Aguilar
on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

On 26 June 2013 the Commission presented a progress report on the implementation of the National Roma Integration Strategies, following the adoption of the EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies in 2011. The report shows that little progress has been achieved in the Member States, even in order to set the preconditions necessary for the successful implementation of the national strategies. It also finds that a majority of Member States have not allocated sufficient resources from their national budgets to implement the strategies. The Commission also presented a proposal for a Council Recommendation on effective Roma integration measures in the Member States (COM(2013)0460). Furthermore, while the EU Framework called on the Member States to ensure that Roma are not discriminated against, and that the respect of their human rights is guaranteed, racism towards and discrimination against Roma continue.

–  What action is the Commission taking in response to violations of the fundamental rights of Roma in Member States, especially violations of the right to freedom of movement and of residence, the right to equality and non-discrimination, the right to protection of sensitive personal data, including through the prohibition of registers based on ethnicity and race, and the right to access to and respect for economic and social rights?

–  How does the Commission monitor the anti-Roma incidents taking place across Europe?

–  What is the Commission doing to facilitate and assist Member States in the process of implementing the Roma strategies? What concrete mechanisms of monitoring and impact assessment has the Commission envisaged regarding measures taken in the implementation of national strategies?

–  Is the Commission ready to urge the Member States to allocate enough financial assets to fulfil their policy commitments and to add outcome indicators, baselines and numerical headline targets to national strategies in order to facilitate the development of the national Roma strategies?

–  How does the Commission plan to raise awareness among Roma representatives and actually involve them in the development, monitoring and implementation of these strategies?

–  Is the Commission ready to promote the launch of integrated multi-sector development programmes for the most deprived micro-regions by mobilising all available CSF Funds and other EU instruments? Is the Commission pushing for the inclusion of these integrated programmes in their partnership contracts, and is it supporting Member States’ efforts to establish operational programmes in a way that promote equal opportunities and prevent discrimination and segregation?

–  Does the Commission view the segregation of Roma children in schools, the development and maintenance of gypsy-only schools and classes, and the unfounded placement of Roma children in special schools violations of Directive 2000/43/EC, and will it take steps to end such violations?

–  How does the Commission facilitate the involvement of enlargement countries with significant Roma populations into the EU’s Roma inclusion process?

Tabled: 17.10.2013

Forwarded: 21.10.2013

Deadline for reply: 28.10.2013