Better recommendations and more active Roma participation are needed

The European Parliament’s plenary session held a debate on Roma Equality, Inclusion and Participation. MEP Lívia Járóka, Vice-President of the European Parliament from Fidesz, welcomed the documents adopted by the Heads of State and Government at the Porto Social Summit. Nevertheless, she highlighted that since 2010 the EP had emphasized the importance of the issues adopted in Porto.

Acknowledging all the criticisms raised during the debate, MEP Járóka emphasized that putting Roma to the fore is essential for the effectiveness of the Recovery Fund programs, and that the Hungarian example in this area could serve as a good example to the other Member States’ governments. “Elimination of discrimination can only be achieved through employment and education,” said the MEP.

She emphasized that in Europe the people living in poverty are the biggest victims of the coronavirus pandemic. Therefore, the most important task for the upcoming period is to take economic steps that can anticipate the integration process of the Roma, in addition to eliminating discrimination. Thus, there is a need for measures that will ensure that “their economic involvement and integration into European society can finally take place,” said VP Járóka.

“For more than 800 years, European Roma have been members of European society, our economic integration and our culture are organic part of Europe. In this regard, I call on the European Council and the European Commission to support the Member States in the integration of the Roma with effective recommendations,” concluded the Fidesz politician.

Background: In 2011 during the Hungarian Presidency, following the suggestion of Fidesz, the European Parliament’s report initiated that the Roma strategy should include specific targets, real financial monitoring and more active involvement of the members and leaders of the local community in the decision-making process. Unfortunately, these proposals of the Járóka-report were then omitted from the Commission’s final document.  Therefore, it is a great achievement that the Council’s document, which was adopted in April, finally contains all these previously suggested elements.