US Billionaire Calls Upon Coherent EU Policy on Roma

Bulgaria in EU | September 18, 2010, Saturday // 19:48|  views

US billionaire George Soros, who is supporting the Roma integration through initiatives of the Open Society Foundation, has oppsed France's deportation of Roma to Romania and Bulgaria. Photo by EPA/BGNES

The American billionaire George Soros has critiqued the French policy towards the Roma and has stated that the problem could be solved through education of the minority.

Soros has said in an interview for the French newspaper "Le Monde" that the problem with the Roma could be solved only at European level through introduction of an educational plan for creating of elite from the minority.  

"Sarkozy broke the EU laws and rules. Arresting individual offenders of the law and bringing them in front of the court should be done by the state. The disgrace of a whole ethnic group and presenting it collectively as dangerous for the society contradicts to respecting human rights," Soros said.

The billionaire, who was born in Hungary, has created several associations which aim at improving the living conditions of Roma.

"While everyone is trying to export their problem in another country, like Bulgarian and Romania are doing, and while Sarkozy has no other response but to "send people home", as he says, no solution will be found," Soros said.

According to him, the Roma problem could be solved only through policies which put the improvement of their situation in the center of concerns.

"The EU has no coherent policy. What needs to be implemented is a long-term educational plan, including at least one generation, and its respective funding," Soros said.

The Open Society Foundation, to which Soros is a Chair, has announced it has given nearly USD 150 M for programs for helping the integration of Roma in society.  

In August, in an open letter to the European leaders, the billionaire condemned the Franch Roma-expulsion policy  and urged the EU to create a better plan for their integration.

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Tags: George Soros, Roma, France, deportation, Bulgaria, Romania, Open Society Foundation, Integration

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