EC Presses Central, East Europe Members to Boost Roma Integration

Commissioners Andor and Reding speaking at the Roma integration briefing in Brussels Wednesday. Photo by EPA/BGNES

The European Commission has called on 5 EU member states from Central and Eastern Europe, including Bulgaria, to do more to further the integration of their Roma citizens.

"Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania need to promote active measures to put an end to the social exclusion of Roma," EU Social Affairs Commissioner, Hungarian Laszlo Andor said at a briefing in Brussels Wednesday.

According to data obtained by Andor, 4 out of 5 Roma citizens in the EU live in poverty, only 1/3 have jobs, and 50% of Roma kids do not go to kindergarten.

"Member states, particularly those with large Roma populations, must urgently and forcefully promote" policies for inclusion of the often discriminated group, he said.

EU Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner Viviane Reding also took part in the briefing.

"I know integration is not popular but it is necessary. Roma people are European citizens and member states have an obligation to stop their exclusion," stated Reding.

She pointed to a few positive examples of integration, saying that Romania's government had earmarked 150,000 places in schools, universities and vocational training programs.

"The commitment is there but frankly there is a big gap between commitment and delivery," added Reding.

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