WRITTEN QUESTION E-0708/04 by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Disappearance of last-remaining sources of income for Roma population in eastern Slovakia and resultant looting, violent clashes and migration.
Date: 2004-03-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Roma, Slovakia, accession to the European Union, migration, public order, social integration, social policy, social security, unemployment insurance

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/707

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(21 April 2004)

According to the jurisprudence of the European Court, the compatibility of the Portuguese labelling
requirements with article 28 of the EC Treaty will depend on the extent to which:

(cid:1) the characteristics of the pasteurised yoghurts mentioned are not substantially different, particularly as

regards the quantity of bacteria, from those of the fresh product; and

(cid:1) appropriate labelling is sufficient to inform consumers.

The Commission is examining the need to establish legislation on yoghurt and yoghurt-like products
which includes the aspects mentioned by the Honourable Member.

Following that examination, which should be completed in the near future, where it is considered
appropriate and necessary to establish additional legislation, the Commission will forward a proposal to
the Parliament and to the Council.

(2004/C 88 E/0729)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0708/04

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(10 March 2004)

Subject: Disappearance of last-remaining sources of income for Roma population in eastern Slovakia and

resultant looting, violent clashes and migration

1.
Is the Commission aware that the Roma population in the east of Slovakia, which accounts for the
majority of the population in many localities and has been increasingly hard hit by unemployment in the
last fifteen years, is now being totally deprived of any source of income as a result of cuts in social security
payments?

2.
Is the Commission also aware that the despair caused by loss of income is meanwhile leading to
clashes between the population and the massive police presence in the region, and to the looting of shops
and petrol stations?

3.
Are the cuts against which popular anger is being directed a consequence of the requirements with
which the Slovakian government is expected to comply in order to ensure its country’s membership of the
European Union from 1 May 2004, or is the Slovakian government free to increase public expenditure to
a level that would enable the underlying causes of social unrest quickly to be removed?

Does the Commission expect the present situation to step up the pressure on the Roma people in
4.
Slovakia to leave their homeland, temporarily or for the long term, in order to earn money in Western
Europe? What will be the impact of any such development now that most of the present EU Member
States are seeking to restrict worker migration in the first few years after the new Member States accede?

5.
Does the Commission agree that in the extremely difficult circumstances of the Roma people at this
time it would be a mistake to seek to explain the disturbances solely by the presence of criminal gangs,
and that other measures are needed to solve the current problems than locking up individuals caught
breaking the law?

6. What can EU policy contribute to putting the Slovakian Roma people in the position of shortly being
able to earn a sufficient income in their present homeland to enable them to continue to live there without
having to resort to looting or come into violent conflict with the authorities in order to secure a
livelihood?

C 88 E/708

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(29 April 2004)

The Commission has noted the introduction of a new social benefit system in Slovakia, that has led to a
significant reduction of the social benefit payments as from the beginning of March 2004 and has been
concerned about the Roma unrest and looting in Eastern Slovakia. The Commission is closely following
the situation on the ground.

In general, the Commission obviously rejects the use of any kind of violence as a way of making social or
any other claims. It continues to support the process of extensive economic reforms undertaken by the
Slovak Government, which in the medium-term should increase productivity growth and the employment
rate in the country.

However, the Commission has been in close contact with the Slovak authorities on this issue and has
expressed its hope that the Slovak Government will urgently use all the means at its disposal to reach a
reasonable and measured outcome to this sensitive issue. The Commission has pointed out that particular
attention should be given to ease the hardship of the poorest sectors of the population which are likely to
suffer most from the reduction of social benefits. Job opportunities should be enhanced in the poorest
parts of the country and in Eastern Slovakia in particular. In this context, the Commission welcomes a
14-point paper presented recently by the Slovak Government on ways to improve the situation of the
most disadvantaged citizens, particularly the Roma. The Slovak authorities have also reassured the
Commission that they will closely monitor police behaviour in the east of the country.

As regards the possible migration of Roma from Slovakia, there is, of course, the possibility, as the
Honourable Member points out,
leave their home country,
temporarily or long-term, in order to earn their living elsewhere. In this context, however, it should be
noted that for the first two years after accession, the current Member States will admit workers from the
future Member States under national rules rather than under Community rules and that for the most part
restrictive arrangements will remain in place.

that Roma people in Slovakia might

The Commission is committed to supporting the Slovak authorities as far as it can to solve this issue as
soon as possible. While there is no short-term solution to the employment problem of the Roma
population in Eastern Slovakia, the Structural Funds, through a mainstreaming approach, will certainly
improve their economic and social situation and help create additional jobs which should benefit the
Roma communities.

The Community Support Framework for Slovakia in particular addresses the question of Roma and will
tackle the marginalisation of Roma through a strategy of integration. Selective settlement development
involving improvement of education, health, water, waste water, and road infrastructure will be
implemented. Certain measures will be funded at 80 % by the EU (the normal
limit is 75 % for co-
financing of public expenditure). The aim will be to begin a process of improvement of living and working
conditions, in particular an integrated approach to education, advice, and training, to assist in opening up
opportunities, particularly for young people. The Commission is working with the Slovak authorities to set
up a sub-committee to the Community Support Framework (CSF) Monitoring Committee for Roma issues,
which would provide advice on funding in this area within Slovakia.

In addition, the European Social Fund supports schemes which provide pathways into employment for
disadvantaged groups, many of them being part of the Roma minority, which should eventually lead to
stable employment, but which through granting an ‘activation benefit’ immediately improve the income
situation of the participants. Moreover, the government is preparing a scholarship scheme for pupils from
disadvantaged groups, which should not only foster the participation of Roma children in secondary
education but will also provide additional financial resources for the families of the pupils. This scheme
which is likely to start in May 2004 will be co-funded by the European Social Fund.