WRITTEN QUESTION E-1788/03

by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission

(28 May 2003)

Subject: Human rights in the accession countries

As we approach enlargement in 2004 there is concern that, while accession countries may have national strategies to deal with human rights issues, implementation may be weak.

What information does the Commission have, for example, on Slovakia's national strategy to address the social exclusion of the Roma? What is the position in other accession countries?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(3 July 2003)

The Commission continues to follow actively the development of human rights issues and related strategies in the Accession Countries for their compliance with the Copenhagen political criteria.

Whilst implementation is generally good, efforts need still to be strengthened in a number of areas and the Commission has pointed out in its Regular Reports that there remains a gap between good policy formulation and implementation on the ground. The Commission continues, therefore, to closely monitor the situation and at all appropriate occasions and at all levels to call on the Governments and other institutions involved for reinforced efforts to bridge any gaps.

The question of social exclusion of the Roma has always been an issue of specific priority for the Commission. In this context, the acceding States are already preparing for their full participation in the Open Method of Co-ordination on issues of social inclusion as of the date of accession, through the elaboration of Joint Inclusion Memoranda (JIMs).

Although the JIMs are still being developed, the current analysis of the social situation of the countries which they present has highlighted certain key challenges which should be addressed to tackle Roma poverty and social exclusion. The problems are in particular: poor living conditions, low levels of education/literacy, weak position on the labour market, poor health and housing and poverty.

In particular, Slovakia developed its first Roma strategy in 1999, and subsequently updated this in the following years in order to address ongoing discrimination and social exclusion stemming from high levels of unemployment and educational disadvantage. The latest policy document was adopted by Slovakia in March 2003, designed as a long-term strategy (up to the year 2010) and focussed on education, housing, health and technical infrastructure, as well as on public awareness.

Roma policy in Hungary is based on the government's 1999 Medium-term action programme. Despite considerable efforts by the government, Roma in Hungary remain affected by social inequalities concerning employment, health, standard of living and education, where de facto segregation in schools has remained a problem with more than 700 segregated classes nationwide. The much-heralded long-term strategy, expected to be adopted in October 2003, and the transposition of the Union's non-discrimination legislation into Hungarian legislation, should facilitate the integration of Roma into Hungarian society.

The Czech Republic adopted a long-term policy in June 2000, which targeted the key areas of education, employment, housing and the fight against discrimination. Moreover, the law on the rights of minorities, which came into effect in August 2001, affected the composition of the Council for National Minorities, a monitoring and advisory body, with the inclusion of officials from ministries and representatives from minorities' organisations in equal proportion. The government approved the first report by the Council on the situation of minorities submitted in June 2002. The majority of the Roma population in the Czech Republic lives in cities and still experiences high levels of unemployment, long-term dependency on social assistance benefits and social isolation, as well as educational disadvantage.

Under Poland's State programme for Roma, educational establishments were recognised as a priority. In Poland, Roma assistants act as intermediaries between school and pupils' families, in order to help Roma pupils to have better relations with the school. The Roma assistants programme has brought significant improvement of attendance and educational school achievements among Roma pupils in the schools under the programme.

Bulgaria adopted a Framework Programme in 1999 on integration of Roma, focusing inter alia on education, housing, health and employment. However, as outlined in the Commission Regular Reports, little progress has been achieved to date in implementing this programme. Until now there has unfortunately been little change in the situation of the Roma minority and there are no significant developments in their socio-economic situation and living conditions.

The Government of Romania adopted in April 2001 its national strategy for the improvement of the situation of Roma. A shortage of resources has meant that of the ten points covered by the Strategy only five have been prioritised so far (health, housing, employment, education and infrastructure).