ALDE Round table raises awareness of Roma rights in Romania

5.46.58pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 8th Jun 2006

On the initiative of ALDE Roma MEP from Hungary, Viktoria Mohacsi, and with the participation of Romanian state ministers and officials as well as representatives of civil society, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats addressed the issue of Roma minority rights in Romania at a seminar in Brussels today.

Whilst the question of protecting Roma rights is common to a number of European countries, the focus of this seminar was on how the prospect of EU membership could improve their status and treatment as a distinct community within Romanian society.

Graham Watson, Liberal and Democrat group leader opened the seminar by saying:

"The situation of the Roma in Romania is but one chapter in a novel exposing Europe's secret shame."

"The Commission's most recent Monitoring Report showed that Romania has made substantial progress within the last few years including the EU anti-Discrimination Directive - part of the 'acquis' for membership - which has paved the way towards stamping out discrimination against Roma."

"Romani people may not have had a happy past but at least they can look forward to a better future as part of the European Union," he commented afterwards.

Viktoria Mohácsi herself highlighted the importance of the Roma community and stressed that since enlargement the issue has now become a continent-wide concern:

"Once Romania joins the European Union it will add another 2 million Roma to the EU on top of those who joined in May 2004. This Community can no longer be ignored as together they number more than the population of several Member States. The European Union now has a responsibility to ensure they no longer suffer discrimination or prejudice. In Romania, the Government has to increasingly strengthen its commitment towards solving the numerous problems affecting the Romani community. "

Markó Béla, Vice Prime Minister of Romania responsible for European integration outlined the institutional framework in Romania which is continuously being adapted to accommodate the needs of the Roma community both on a central and regional level. "The approach to the inclusion of the Roma population," he said, "must not be seen only from a social point of view but also from a cultural perspective.... such as actions to encourage and support policies aimed at the development of cultural, ethnic and linguistic identity of the Roma population."

Referring to a draft law on national minorities currently before the Romanian Parliament he said: "The regulatory framework must grant not only equality before the law but equality of opportunity." The hope is to enact the law before the Commission's next evaluation in September.

Monica Musca, ALDE Romanian Observer MEP from the ruling PNL party, co-organiser of the seminar, pointed out that serious progress has been made at a legislative and institutional level concerning the situation of Roma population. She also recognised that Romania still has more to do to ensure equal treatment:

"Both the Romani community and the Romanian authorities need to join forces to address this issue and to encourage a fuller and more active participation in society on an equal basis. "

"We will now draft a strategy to inform and raise awareness amongst decision-makers in Romania accompanied by an audio-visual campaign to change prejudices and stereotypes in Romania regarding the Roma population."