EU Social Council unanimously approves Roma Strategy

[News_Editor]

EU Social Council unanimously approves Roma Strategy

2011-05-20 21:24:02 GMT+7 (ICT)

BRUSSELS (BNO NEWS) -- The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) on Friday unanimously approved the EU's Roma Strategy that is expected to be passed by the European Council in June.

The strategy will be discussed by two other councils before being sent to the European Council. EPSCO added that the strategy is necessary as there are many Roma people still facing social exclusion.

"Despite efforts at national, European and international level to advance Roma inclusion, many Roma still face deep poverty, profound social exclusion, barriers in exercising fundamental rights, and discrimination," the EPSCO council said.

The Council agreed in Friday's extraordinary meeting that the protection of fundamental rights, notably by combating discrimination and segregation, is essential for improving the situation of the Roma people.

The EU's Roma Strategy will provide a framework for Member States' national Roma integration strategies. The document also calls on Member States to prepare a national Roma integration strategy by the end of 2011, or to update their existing strategies.

The national integration strategies will have to cover four key areas: the improvement of education, employment, health care and housing conditions. However, each Member State must address the specific circumstances and needs on its strategy.

The EPSCO council remarked that the size and the social and economic situation of the Roma population are different in each member state. In addition, each national strategy must include specific and quantifiable commitments which will be analyzed by the European Commission.

"Joining the Roma Strategy and the Europe 2020 Strategy provides an opportunity for a rigorous monitoring of the progress of implementation," said EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, László Andor. "It is very important that the EU play a key role in supporting national efforts."

The final decision on the EU's Roma Integration Framework Strategy will be made during the meeting of Heads of State and Government in June. Previously, the strategy will be discussed in the Education, Youth, Culture and Sports Council (May 20) and in the General Affairs Council (May 23).

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