ERIO statement on the European Commission’s evaluation report on the National Roma Integration Strategies

ERIO welcomes the European Commission’s Communication to the European Parliament, the Committee of the EESC and the Committee of Regions on the assessment of the National Roma Integration Strategies (NRIS). It is very important that the Commission recognizes that much still needs to be done.

Civil society feared that the Commission would assign full responsibility solely to Member States after the adoption of the European Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies. In fact, the Commission’s assessment encourages Member States to work in close cooperation with them – “…continue regular bilateral dialogue with the Commission and relevant stakeholders…”- and the Commission commits itself to support Member States during the implementation of their NRIS.

At the last Roma Platform meeting on 22 March 2012, Commissioner Reding stated that preliminary findings of the Commission’s evaluation of the strategies show that there is still a lot of room for improvement. ERIO expected that, in this Communication, the Commission would clearly point out the weaknesses and gaps of the strategies. Since the European Framework is not a legally binding document, there is no specific instrument to ensure that Member States strictly follow the principles and requirements of the Framework. To overcome this limitation, the Commission once stressed that it will use EU assessment reports as an instrument to politically pressure by blaming and shaming those Member States failing to come with efficient measures for Roma integration.

Taking into consideration that most of the NRIS need significant improvement, the Commission’s assessment should have included a stronger language in pointing out the weaknesses of the strategies. The strongest statement one can find addressing Member States, followed by recommendations is in the following paragraph: ” …Member States… need stronger efforts to live up to their responsibilities, by adopting more concrete measures, explicit targets for measurable deliverables, clearly earmarked funding at national level and a sound  national monitoring and evaluation system. “  

Although the anti-discrimination element of the European Framework was not as strong as civil society wanted, in its assessment, the Commission paid special attention to the structural requirements. The Communication also comes with a specific recommendation encouraging Member States to strongly fight discrimination. The Commission dedicates a specific section in the Communication to remind, once again, enlargement countries that Roma integration goals are equally relevant to them.

Overall, this assessment is a step forward in the process of sharing responsibilities, further communication and cooperation between the Commission and Member States. This first assessment was important to underline the completeness and the need to improve Roma integration policies at national level. Since the next Commission’s report will assess the implementation of the NRIS, ERIO hopes that the Commission will come up with a stronger criticism to those Member States who fail to deliver and consider Roma integration as their first and foremost responsibility.

ERPC welcomes European Commission’s negative assessment of the National Roma Integration Strategies

The European Roma Policy Coalition (ERPC) agrees with the European Commission that the National Roma Integration Strategies submitted by EU Member States need to be improved to make a real difference in the lives of Roma by 2020. The Commission’s assessment, published today, concurs with the ERPC’s review issued in March that had already highlighted key shortcomings in the strategies.

“The European Commission’s assessment of the strategies reveals many of them to be so deeply flawed that they cannot even be regarded as a first step forward. They reflect a complete lack of political will. Such complacency is neither acceptable nor sustainable”, said Shannon Pfohman, ERPC Chair.

Member States need to adopt more concrete targets, measurable deliverables, adequate funding and effective implementation and monitoring mechanisms. It is also crucial that they consult with local authorities and civil society on the content and implementation of the strategies.

The ERPC also welcomes the fact that the Commission calls on Member States to fight discrimination “convincingly” and “to ensure that anti-discrimination legislation is effectively enforced in their territories”.

“Fighting anti-Gypsyism and taking effective measures to tackle discrimination must be at the core of the Roma integration strategies. This is all the more urgent in a climate of rising hostility towards Roma across Europe”, added Ivan Ivanov, ERPC co-chair.

The ERPC urges the Commission to press EU Member States to revise their strategies in line with the recommendations.

For interviews or further comment, please contact:

Georgina Siklossy, Communication and Press Officer, European Network Against Racism

Tel: +32 (0)2 229 35 70 – Mobile : +32 (0)473 49 05 31 – E-mail: georgina@enar-eu.org

Roma: National Roma Strategies – promising start but further efforts should be made

Lívia Járóka MEP

The European Commission today published its Communication on National Roma Integration Strategies. Lívia Járóka MEP, Rapporteur of the EU Strategy on Roma Inclusion, commented: “Most countries have presented a credible and profound plan for enhancing the inclusion of the 12 million European Roma, but for the success of this framework strategy, several additional conditions must be fulfilled.”

At a joint press conference today, Lívia Járóka MEP, Viviane Reding, European Commissioner for Justice and Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, and László Andor, European Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs, presented their views on the document’s findings.

According to EPP Group MEP Lívia Járóka, the submitted national plans do not fall short of the expected professional validation and complexity, but reproducing the objectives set out by the EU Institutions on paper is one thing and in practice, of course, will be another. “Only those projects whose impacts – in the form of clear, concrete actions – are deep and visible, with indisputable results should be endorsed”, highlighted Mrs Járóka.

The Hungarian MEP also drew attention to the necessity of ensuring the participatory monitoring evaluation involving Roma communities and helping to develop their capacity and expertise in order to gain a realistic and objective view of the overall success or failure of different measures and instruments. “For this, the independence of Roma NGOs is very important, since the vast majority of civil society is either paid directly by their homeland governments or they live on EU-allocated sums distributed by national authorities and they find themselves in an inferior position which blunts their criticism towards the authorities and weakens their role as watchdogs”, underlined Mrs Járóka, the only Roma Member in the European Parliament.

Mrs Járóka also touched upon the enlargement aspect of the framework strategy and called on the EU Institutions to involve the enlargement countries at whatever stage of accession, to mobilise the Instrument on Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA), and to pressurise them through the mechanism of the Stabilisation and Association (SAA) process. On the funding of the strategy and the next multiannual financial framework, Lívia Járóka welcomed the Commission’s proposals for the regulations governing the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund, in particular broadening the range of ex ante conditions adding the development of national strategies and mapping the territorial concentration of poverty.

“More target and development-oriented, complex, flexible and sustainable programmes are necessary with longer time coverage and greater territorial relevance, focusing on the most disadvantaged micro-regions and addressing suburban or rural poverty”, she concluded.

For further information:

Lívia JÁRÓKA MEP, Tel: +33-3-88-175218

Miklós Panyi, EPP Group Press and Communications Service, Tel: +32-473-866137

Hungary’s Roma Strategy generates a highly positive response

Hungary’s National Strategy for Social Inclusion has received an extremely positive evaluation, and the document has been recognised as faithfully reflecting the aims expressed during Hungary’s 2011 EU presidency, and the results achieved since then. This is apparent from the statement released by the European Commission evaluating national strategies for Roma integration. The Ministry for Human Resources welcomes the Commission’s statement, and sees it as an important step towards realisation of the goals of the European strategy. The Ministry welcomes the fact that when preparing the statement, the Commission took account of Hungary’s recommendation that evaluation should occur on a country-by-country basis.

The Commission’s analysis is further proof of the fact that Hungary is at the forefront of integration, and that many of the accusations levelled at the country at home and across Europe are examples of double standards which have simply served to generate negative publicity.

Hungary’s contribution to the EU Framework Strategy was without doubt one of the Hungarian presidency’s greatest successes, and its acceptance was one of that presidency’s main priorities. The Commission’s statement recognises that poverty is not an exclusively Roma issue, but is a problem for society as a whole. While the Commission points to integrated education and school segregation as areas apparently receiving less attention in the Strategy, we must emphasise that in public consultations and through the implementation of composite programmes we are focusing on those areas which receive less attention in the text.

On the basis of the resolutions in the Framework Strategy, every Member State prepared its own national strategy; compared to previous initiatives these provide far more assistance to the disadvantaged, and pay special attention to the integration of Roma.

Clearly the Strategy and the action plan will not solve at a stroke the crisis situation facing Roma and non-Roma Hungarians in smaller settlements across the country. Nevertheless we see it as an achievement that over the last two years we have been able to call the European Union’s attention to this grave problem, and to Hungary’s experiences related to it.

Hungary continues to be ready to play an active role in the successful implementation of European measures for Roma integration, and in specialist assistance offered to the countries of the Western Balkans. Alongside this, we are continuing implementation of our national strategy, according to the action plan contained in the document.

Ministry of Social Resources

State Secretariat for Social Inclusion

Press Office

“Widespread” Roma exclusion persist

A new report says that many Roma people “continue to face discrimination and social exclusion” across the EU.

The situation of Roma is on average worse than the situation of non-Roma living in close proximity, it says.The report is based on two surveys on the socioeconomic situation of Roma and non-Roma living nearby in 11 member states and in neighbouring European countries.

It was published jointly by the EU agency for fundamental rights (FRA) and the United Nations development programme (UNDP).The results will contribute to the European commission’s Roma communication which was due to be presented in Strasbourg on Wednesday by EU justice commissioner Viviane Reding.

“These survey results paint a grim picture of the situation of the Roma across the EU today,” says FRA director Morten Kjaerum.He added, “”Discrimination and anti-gypsyism persist. The results show that swift, effective action is needed, particularly to improve Roma education.

“This is key to unlock their future potential, and it will equip young Roma with the skills they need to escape the vicious cycle of discrimination, exclusion and poverty.”

http://www.theparliament.com/latest-news/article/newsarticle/widespread-roma-exclusion-persists/

 

Brussels urges EU countries to act on Roma integration

The European Commission has scolded EU states for not delivering on their commitment to implement national strategies for actively integrating Roma communities into society.

“It is good news that Member States have delivered on their commitment and presented Roma integration strategies. Presenting national strategies is a first and important step,” said European Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding.

“However, Member States now need to move up a gear and strengthen their efforts with more concrete measures, explicit targets, earmarked funding and sound monitoring and evaluation. We need more than strategies that exist on paper. We need tangible results in national politics that improve the lives of Europe’s 10 to 12 million Roma,” she added.

According to the Commission’s  assessment the majority of Member States have so far failed to allocate sufficient budgetary resources for Roma inclusion.Only 12 countries have clearly identified allocated funding, whether from national or EU sources, and presented specific amounts for Roma inclusion policy measures in their strategy papers (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia and Sweden).

The Roma – Europe’s largest minority – often suffer racism, discrimination and social exclusion. Many Roma children are still on the streets instead of at school, and their parents are often denied a fair chance on the labour market. Roma women, meanwhile, are frequently victims of violence and exploitation.

http://www.euractiv.com/socialeurope/brussels-urges-eu-countries-act-roma-integration-news-512944

Roma continue to face discrimination in Europe, report finds

The Roma minority continues to face hardship and discrimination in Europe, according to a  reportfrom European Union and United Nations agencies that underscores ongoing marginalization of the group, including forced evictions and violent attacks.

Four out of 10 Roma surveyed said someone in their household had to go hungry at least once in the past month because money was short. Nine out of 10 Roma, who also are known as Gypsies, live below the poverty line. And roughly half said they had been discriminated against as Roma in the past year, the report found.

All in all, “the results present a grim picture of the situation of the Roma surveyed,” the report said.

Roma were behind other Europeans in education, employment and housing, from Spain to Slovakia. Disadvantages for Roma were apparent across all 11 countries included in the surveys, which polled more than 22,000 households.

“That is precisely what we find most shocking. We would have expected to find significant differences, but from the responses of the Roma people themselves and their neighbors, we see few differences,” Ioannis Dimitrakopoulos of the EU Agency on Fundamental Rights told the BBC.

Earlier this month, Roma were forced out of a Belgrade settlement by masked attackers who shouted: “Serbia for Serbs! Roma out of Serbia!” the European Roma Rights Center reported. The attack echoed a long line of assaults across Europe in recent years reported by the group, including at the hands of police.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/05/roma-continue-to-face-disadvantages-discrimination-report-finds.html

Nationalism on the rise in southeastern Europe

Populism and nationalism offer dangerously simple answers to complicated issues and win voters’ support in economically trying times. Recent polls in Greece as well as across southeast Europe are examples of the trend.

Serbia’s newly elected president used to be known as an extremist and opposed to his country’s European integration. But after his election, Tomislav Nikolic promised to keep his country on course for EU membership. Belgrade writer and journalist Sasa Ilic, however, has his doubts about the president’s credibility and said Nikolic’s polices will likely be a continuation of his personal convictions.

“He used to be a member of Vojislav Seselj’s voluntary guard. He took part in the war in Croatia and has expressed his support for Ratko Mladic and a greater Serbia,” the Serbian journalist said at the conference “Nationalism and Populism in Southeast Europe,” held in Tutzing near Munich.

http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15976124,00.html