Bulgarian Roma protest for equality in Sofia in 2005. The European Parliament urges EU-wide efforts for the integration of the Roma. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia Photo Agency)
A resolution of the European Parliament (EP) approved with 510 votes calls for more efforts for the integration of the Roma in residential housing, health care, education, and job opportunities. It also reminds that about ten million Roma live in the EU most of which in the newer member states in the east.
The EP denounced unconditionally all types of discrimination and racism faced by the Roma. "Anti-gypsy sentiments, or "Romaphobia", are still widely spread in Europe, and are used and encouraged by extremists, which could lead to hate speeches, physical assaults, illegal expatriation, or police harassment", the resolution states with respect to the European Strategy for the Roma.
The situation of the Roma in the EU is different from that of the other ethnic minorities according to the members of the EP. That is why they believe that the special EU-wide measures in this respect are justified.
Acknowledging the lack of progress in the fight against the discrimination of the Roma, the EP points out that all of the newer EU members from Eastern Europe committed themselves to improving the situation of the Roma as they were negotiating their EU accessions. The EP calls on the European Commission to carry out an evaluation of the fulfillment of these commitments.
The resolution also urges the Commission to develop a European Framework Strategy for Roma Integration with an action plan and measures at the EU level. It is also asked to envisage the respective financial support.
The EP stressed that the Roman Holocaust, also called Porajmos, needs full recognition and is commensurate with the other Nazi crimes urging the creation of a memorial in the former concentration camp in Lety, Czech Republic, where there is currently a pig farm.
The resolution states a number of specific measures to further Roma integration in the critical fields of housing, health care, education, and professional development.