WRITTEN QUESTION E-2927/97 by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel (ELDR) to the Commission (17 September 1997)

Subject: Discrimination against the Roma population in the Czech Republic and Hungary

1. Is the Commission aware that in the Czech Republic and Hungary, the Roma population is still being discriminated against in an inadmissible fashion, in particular by being excluded from education and work?

2. What reactions has the Commission received from the Czech Republic and Hungary to warnings that they should take steps to counteract discrimination against their Roma populations and improve their situation?

3. What action is being taken in the context of pre-accession negotiations and aid programmes such as PHARE to improve the situation of Roma people in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and what have been the specific results of such action?

The separation of the Czech Republic and Slovakia has left many Roma people stateless, and the so-called 'gypsy clause' in Czech law, which requires two years of residence at a fixed address, makes it extremely difficult for these people to obtain Czech nationality.

4. Will Roma people be entitled, after the accession of the Czech Republic (and Hungary) to the European Union, to enjoy the benefits of free movement of persons if they are themselves stateless? If not, how does the Commission intend to guarantee treatment of this population group as full European citizens?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (27 October 1997)

1. The Commission is well informed about the situation of the Roma in the countries of central and eastern Europe.

2. In the Czech Republic, the Council for national minorities is preparing, for government approval later this year, an action plan to improve the situation of the Roma. Last September an inter-ministerial commission was established to act as the official body for Roma affairs. In recent years Czech authorities have introduced stiffer sentences for acts motivated by racial hatred and intolerance for minorities. In Hungary, the government adopted in July 1997 a medium term programme to address the situation of the Roma, namely the reduction of unemployment and the improvement of housing and education.

3. In its opinions on the central and eastern European countries which have applied for membership, the Commission has, where appropriate, evaluated each country's treatment of the Roma. In all applicant countries in central and eastern Europe the Commission finances projects in the field of human rights and minorities. In the Czech Republic concrete projects for the Roma include support to an educational centre for Romas, support for the establishment of a consulting, information and educational centre for Roma organisations as well as support for the publication of the information bulletin 'Romano Dzaniben'. In Hungary, projects include support for the 'Roma press centre', preparation for university entrance exams as well as provision of health care and social support to Roma families.

4. Under Community law, stateless people cannot, in principle, avail themselves of the benefits deriving from Article 8a of the EC Treaty. However, they will benefit from the principle of free movement of people within the meaning of Article 7a of the EC Treaty (the abolition of checks at the internal frontiers) as this concerns everyone, independent of nationality or stateless status. Nevertheless the Commission would also recall that Article 7a of the EC Treaty is not yet fully implemented among the Member States.