EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/24

(2004/C 78 E/0026)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0912/03

by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission

(24 March 2003)

Subject: Racism and racial attacks in candidate countries

Following the report of the European Parliament on countering racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism in the candidate countries (A5-0055/2000) and recent reports from the UK House of Lords which suggest that reports by the Ellis enlargement commission do not give an adequate picture of the persecution of the Roma in Hungary, Poland and the Czech and Slovak Republics, what is the Commission doing to remind candidate governments of their responsibility to combat discrimination against the Roma people?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(8 May 2003)

In the context of protection of human rights and minorities, the Commission considers the principle of anti-discrimination to be a very important part of the Community ‘acquis’, as laid down notably in Article 13 of the EC Treaty and in the Council Directives 2000/43/EC of 29 June 2000 implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin (1) and 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation (2) and as reaffirmed in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

The Commission has paid close attention to the fulfilment of these criteria. In its progress reports for the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, the Commission has attached high importance to the situation of the Roma minority. Whilst underlining the progress achieved over a number of years, the reports have clearly identified the remaining problems and have called for continued efforts to remedy any remaining weaknesses. The Reports also underlined the need to fully transpose Directives 2000/43/EC and 2000/78/EC and to make further efforts to comply with Article 13 of the EC Treaty, including the establishment of an Equality Body. These issues are raised at all appropriate occasions and at the highest political level.

Necessary arrangements are also made to allow the participation of the Candidate Countries in the Community programme against discrimination. Moreover, Phare is also funding important and specific assistance programmes in this field. For example, the Phare 2001 Programme allocated EUR 3 million for a civil society project in the Czech Republic to encourage participation of the Roma in public life, and EUR 5 million to a social integration programme in Hungary which puts special emphasis on the Roma population. A further EUR 10 million was allocated in Slovakia to support infrastructure and education projects which will benefit the Roma. The PHARE 2002 Programme provided EUR 0,5 million to increase the effectiveness of policies and programmes promoting Roma integration in Hungary, and a further EUR 3 million to promote anti-discrimination and tolerance towards the Roma in Hungary. PHARE 2003 has allocated EUR 1 million for a project to improve the long-term opportunities of the Roma in the Czech Republic.

The Commission will continue to closely monitor and support preparations for accession in the area of non-discrimination.

(1) OJ L 180, 19.7.2000.

(2) OJ L 303, 2.12.2000.