Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Integration of minorities — Roma
Date: 2008-07-09
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: ESC opinion, European social policy, Roma, ethnic discrimination, protection of minorities, social integration

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3.2.2009

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Integration of minorities —
Roma’

(2009/C 27/20)

On 27 October 2006 the European Commission decided to consult the European Economic and Social
Committee, under Article 262 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the

Integration of minorities — Roma.

The Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship, which was responsible for preparing the
Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 10 June 2008. The rapporteur was Ms Sigmund
and the co-rapporteur was Ms Sharma.

At its 446th plenary session, held on 9 and 10 July 2008 (meeting of 9 July 2008), the European Economic
and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 130 votes to 4, with 10 abstentions.

Recommendations

2. a coherent and long-term umbrella policy strategy from the

Commission;

The radical shift that is needed in relations between minori-
ties (1), especially the Roma, and the majority population,
including their integration and a change in their socio-economic
position, is a long term process that nevertheless requires a ‘two
track’ approach:

a) on a short term basis, dealing with those issues, which need
immediate emergency action, such as for example, adopting
legislation in Member States to make enforceable and effec-
tive
the European antidiscrimination legislation which
defends the rights of citizens.

b) by initiating a long-term process that will take decades, in
particular at the levels of
the Member States and/or the
regional and local level, such as for example the improve-
ment of the schooling of the children and of the young
Roma girls and men, the promotion of the Roma language
and culture etc.

The solutions are therefore not only at EU level, but essentially
at Member State, and regional and local level requiring greater
cooperation and partnerships.

Integration of minorities, especially Rom requires:

3. structured, transparent and sustainable cooperation between
all organised civil society players and the promotion of capa-
city building for NGOs;

4. the active responsible involvement of the Roma representa-

tives in the process, and

5. a responsible institutionalised platform structure for

the

practical implementation of specific steps;

6. positive action programmes to be developed around educa-
tion, training and employment, including self employment.

Additionally the Committee calls for the establishment of a Jean
(the Roma language) and Roma
Monnet chair of Romani
culture.

this is to be a
The recommendations will not be met
top-down approach. Only by persuading the Roma community,
especially the male leaders, can positive developments be
achieved. This requires investments in the training of Roma. The
European Structural Funds could be used in this context.

if

1. a legal basis for action that builds on the acquis as well as on
the open method of coordination
social

social protection and

employment,

the pertinent areas of
(education,
inclusion);

(1) Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly RECOMMENDATION
1201 (1993) Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms, the expression ‘national minority’ refers to a
group of persons in a state who: reside on the territory of that state
and are citizens thereof;maintain longstanding, firm and lasting ties
religious or
state;display distinctive ethnic, cultural,
with that
linguistic
although
characteristics;are
smaller in number than the rest of the population of that state or of
a region of that state;are motivated by a concern to preserve together
that which constitutes their common identity, including their culture,
their traditions, their religion or their language:
http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=/Documents/AdoptedText/ta93/
EREC1201.htm.

representative,

sufficiently

1. Introduction

1.1
In a letter dated 27.10.2006, the vice-president of the
Commission and Commissioner responsible for inter-institu-
tional affairs, Margot Wallström, asked the Committee, on the
occasion of the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All
2007, to draw up an exploratory opinion on ‘how to promote
concerted efforts in order to maximise the impact and effective-
ness of all relevant instruments in order to fight discrimination
and promote the integration of minorities, notably Roma’.

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1.2
Since the Committee has already addressed the discrimi-
nation of minorities in various areas of everyday life in a
number of opinions (2), it initially draws attention to the points
made therein and their relevance to the Roma and concentrates
in the present opinion on the particular situation of
this
minority in all areas of life. The Committee hopes its proposals
will help to mainstream this issue and stresses the importance
of a coherent umbrella strategy to bring the Roma into the
process of European integration.

2. The Roma in Europe

2.1
The Roma and their history: Since the historical origin
of a particular minority has a commensurate impact on its
social and political identity and on the associated potential for
conflict, knowledge of one's own history is of
the utmost
importance for both the minority and the majority.

direst poverty on the margins of society (3). The pattern and
extent of exclusion are similar in all the Member States, though
there are differences resulting from historical and socio-political
factors.

the
Demographic trends among Roma differ from those of
majority population: their increasing proportion — despite high
infant mortality and a low rate of life expectance — in the total
population over the long term is a big challenge for all areas of
social and education policy. Without significant improvements
to Roma education and skills levels, Member States will have
large and growing numbers of poorly trained and low-skilled
people, who will act as a brake on economic development and
become a drain on welfare systems. This calls for education and
employment policies and strategies that are sensitive to Roma
traditions and socio-economic living conditions. Only if educa-
tional opportunities, and training to go with them, are provided
and taken up will the Roma be able to make that active contri-
bution to the society to which they belong that is legitimately
expected of them.

Roma have lived in Europe for more than seven centuries. The
presence of a variety of Roma groups in almost all European
countries since the end of the fifteenth century is as well docu-
mented as the measures taken to discriminate, exclude and
persecute them. In some countries Roma were victims of slavery
and in the twentieth century Roma were subjected to particu-
larly horrendous, state-sponsored persecution: the number of
Roma victims of racial persecution and genocide under the
Nazis is difficult to generally considered to exceed half a million.

In short, the history of the Roma in Europe is one of persecu-
tion and persistent discrimination down the centuries, which
understandably has frequently led to many of their number
being traumatised.

is an
The Roma and their Language: Romani
2.2.1
Indo-European language spoken in numerous forms in Europe's
various Roma communities, Romani variants/dialects exist;
nevertheless a large common vocabulary is understood by most
of Roma throughout Europe. Romani is even the mother tongue
in many communities. An exception is those countries, such as
Spain, for instance, where the language was banned and has
been partially lost. Recognising the importance of Romani, as
well as standardising and teaching it, is of the utmost impor-
tance both within and outside the minority. Apart from the
Paris Institut des langues et des civilisations orientales, only the
foreign languages faculty of Bucharest university has a lecture-
ship in the language. Work is also conducted on a local Roma
dialect at Prague's Charles University and Eötvös University in
Budapest has an initiative for a language course under the
European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. Research
is also being conducted in the University of Manchester.

This is why every effort must be made to help the Roma cast
off the mantle of victim hood and transform themselves from
— more or less mistrusted — passive objects to active players
who are ready and able to take an active and responsible role in
society, in particular in the Roma related policies.

2.2
The Roma and Roma demographics: A lack of reliable
statistics means that there are no meaningful demographic data
on Roma. As a result, the number of them thought to live in
Europe ranges from ten to twelve million (between seven to
nine million in the EU). An estimated 60 % of these live in the

(2) EESC-Opinion of 13.9.2006 on Immigration, integration and the role of
civil society organisations, rapporteur: Mr Pariza Castaños (OJ C 318 of
23.12.2006), EESC-Opinion of 10.12.2003 on Immigration, integration
and employment,
(OJ C 80 of
rapporteur: Mr Pariza Castaños
30.3.2004), EESC-Opinion of 5.6.2000 on Measures to combat discri-
mination,
rapporteur: Mr Sharma (OJ C 204 of 18.7.2000);
EESC-Opinion of 1.12.2003 on the European Monitoring Centre on
Racism and Xenophobia, rapporteur: M. Sharma (OJ C 80 of 30.3.2004).

A common language fashions a common identity. The promo-
tion of their language is of fundamental importance, therefore,
for the social recognition and cultural identity of the Roma.

the

(3) The following are some of the main documents dealing with the
issue. The sites contain numerous other references and links, as well
as examples of good practice and different used linguistic versions,
where available.
‘The Situation of Roma in an Enlarged Europe’, Report of
European Commission, 2004)
(http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/fundamental_rights/roma/)
‘Avoiding the Dependency Trap’, UNDP, 2003
(http://roma.undp.sk/)
‘Final Report on the Human Rights Situation of Roma, Sinti and
Travellers in Europe’, Council of Europe, 2006, by Alvaro Gil Robles,
High Commissioner for Human Rights
(http://www.coe.int/t/dg3/romatravellers/documentation/default_en.
asp)
‘Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti Within
the OSCE Area’
(www.osce.org/odihr/)
‘Analysis of the Anti-Segregation Policies in the Countries Partici-
pating in the Decade of Roma Inclusion’
(www.romadecade.org).

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For this reason, the Committee calls for the establishment of a
Jean Monnet chair of Romani and Roma culture.

There is a shortage of good quality day care opportunities in
almost all EU countries according to the Barcelona targets and
Roma children are often refused.

2.3 The Roma as a component of European culture

That the Roma have made their contribution to the diversity of
European culture down the centuries is amply demonstrated in
areas such as music and the visual arts. Given that 2008 is the
Year of Intercultural Dialogue, this is a good opportunity to
highlight and intensify this interconnectedness.

3. The Roma and their alternative lives

3.1
The Roma — A life of discrimination: Today, societal
and institutional discrimination, including anti-gypsism, presents
itself almost daily and is often reproduced in the media; this is
unacceptable under European legislation. Roma are citizens of
an enlarged Europe and have rights under the ratified Treaty,
particularly under Article 13. Failure to grant these rights consti-
tutes discrimination, which is even, in some cases, institutional.

Before and after birth: Inherent discrimination within
3.1.1
the social systems results in many poor, malnourished, unedu-
cated Roma girls growing up to become poor malnourished
mothers who have underweight babies. Antenatal care within
minority communities is generally absent resulting in both
mother and baby being nutritionally deficient. Health provisions
for delivery are limited, with outreach midwifery and health
visitor services being restricted and access to hospitals depen-
dent on travel provision or financial ability. This results in the
babies being unregistered legally and unvaccinated in their early
years. Simply including Roma in existing health care systems is
not sufficient to reduce unfavourable health trends. Emergency
culturally sensitive measures are needed such as health aware-
ness and family planning, massive revaccinations and TB
screening for entire communities. This should be encouraged
with the active involvement (through training) of Roma women
and Roma health mediators, through health mobile units, infor-
mation accessible and understandable by the Roma commu-
nities. Member States should ensure that each Roma baby
figures in the birth register and has his birth certificate.

for

strengthen the mothers

the
Early childhood development is essential
3.1.2
successful school participation and integration as ‘first years last
respect mother-baby programmes, play
forever’. From this
groups
like parent education
programmes but also provide an integrated approach in all
meanings and take into consideration the families' needs. The
Sure Start programme introduced in the UK and spreading in
many EU countries is a good example of inclusion of mothers
and young children and offering day care provisions as well.

just

School age (6-14): Poor school attendance of Roma.
3.1.3
Lack of registration and parental reluctance to send their chil-
dren (especially girls) to school, segregation and substandard
teaching are additional factors recognised in many reports (4).
Tools to strengthen school attendance, overcoming segregation
are essential to break the cycle of generations of uneducated
Roma. CCT (Conditional Cash Transfer)
introduced in some
countries is an option to encourage school attendance and
should be accomplished by the need to prove that children are
registered and have their birth certificate. School attendance can
be expected in case children are integrated and provided with all
the needed services and education methods to be able fulfilling
the requirements (language, delays etc.). Free school meals
(subject to means testing) and text books for all primary school
children should be reintroduced. If education is to be a long
term priority, governments should reconsider this.

Segregation in education arises in the first instance from the
geographical separation of Roma settlement areas from the
majority population. In addition, non-Roma will often remove
their children from schools if the percentage of Roma children
in a class gets too high, which in turn leads to the creation of
segregated schools or classes for Roma children. For a variety of
reasons,
the required standards,
which in turn results in perfectly capable Roma children being
channelled into special schools and usually excluded from the
possibility of continuing their education.

these schools do not meet

A particular problem is the placing of Roma children in special
schools for children with learning difficulties. This is often done
through discriminatory school admission tests, but sometimes
also through spurious incentives, such as free transport or
school meals. The practice of unwarranted placement in special
schools is a blatant contravention of fundamental rights and
must be opposed with all legal and administrative means.

It must also be said here that one reason for failure to attend
school is poverty, since parents either cannot (or will not) pay
the costs involved or they set their children to work either
helping to support the family or looking after younger siblings.
Girls are especially affected by this.

(4) 40 % of Roma children do not attend school (compared with 0.5 %
of the majority population) and 38 % drop out (compared with 4 %
in the majority population). Girls are at an even greater disadvantage,
with only one in three finishing primary education (compared with
19 out of 20 in the majority population).
Only 8 % of Roma children complete secondary education (compared
with 64 % in the majority population) and less than 0.5 % embark
upon tertiary education (data on completion of tertiary education are
not available). Source: UNDP.

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3.1.4 Adulthood

of microcredits and business start-up and support mechanisms,
in order to overcome the challenges and barriers.

3.1.4.1
Housing is marked by poor living conditions and
continued segregation. Slum facilities which are of poor infra-
structure or maintenance,
lacking in utility resources and
containing high environmental and sanitation pollution, provide
the occupants with no property rights and do not give them a
permanent address for which to register their rights to welfare
benefits or employment or rights to education, employment and
health provision. Many of these issues result from societal discri-
mination and ‘anti-gypsism’. It is worth mentioning that their
nomadic lifestyle is the consequence rather than the cause of
their exclusion. Although the overwhelming majority of Roma
are now settled, the choice of a nomadic existence is still often
cited in attempting to explain their exclusion.

Education is one of the most fundamental

3.1.4.2
invest-
ments in the future. The high illiteracy rate and the low level of
Roma education generally bode ill for the future. Member States
need to ensure their education systems do not discriminate
against Roma, and additionally allow for adult programmes
towards literacy, numeracy and life long learning.

It is inordinately difficult for Roma to reach higher levels of
education and get good vocational training. As well as efforts to
integrate them into the normal education and training system,
Member States should also make use of models that recognise
informally acquired skills and be much more generous in recog-
nising qualifications attained outside the country.

The integrated language education policy introduced by the
Commission, one of whose aims is to promote the learning of
minority languages, should also be enlisted to benefit the Roma.

Economic integration requires members of minori-
3.1.4.3
ties to surmount a series of hurdles that often reinforce one
another (5). Having no or very low educational or training quali-
fications or inadequate or unrecognised qualifications automati-
the individual, whilst additional
cally discriminates against
anti-gypsism doubles the obstacles. Dozens of documented
cases prove that unemployment of Roma is often due to racial
discrimination. Members of minority communities have practi-
cally no access to measures promoting lifelong learning.

The average Roma is very much capable of thinking and acting
entrepreneurially; ways and means can therefore be found to
bring Roma out of the shadow economy and to enable them to
participate in regular economic activity, for example by means

(5) The High Level Advisory Group of Experts on the social integration
of ethnic minorities and their full labour market inclusion presented
its report ‘Ethnic Minorities in the Labour Market’ in December 2007.
It lists the most important obstacles to access to the labour market.
(http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/fundamental_rights/pdf/hlg/
etmin_en.pdf).

Many Roma household incomes are highly dependent on
welfare payments and other government transfers (e.g. pensions
or child benefit), while participation in the formal economy is
relatively limited. This makes Roma participation in social
protection systems asymmetrical (i.e. as a group they receive
more than they pay). This asymmetry is an important cause of
social tensions and prejudice and ultimately exclusion.

Additional resources could be provided to make official work
more attractive, following the principle of ‘positive benefits for
positive efforts’. Otherwise, a major systemic source of racial
exclusion will persist. Welfare to work programmes could be
introduced in partnership with both public and private sector
organisations

Discrimination in the workplace, and during the application
process, is well documented and legislative measures must be
enforced against this practice. However, access to relevant voca-
tional training so that Roma can move from unskilled or semi
skilled needs to be identified to create a total culture change.

Healthcare: The low standard of

3.1.4.4
living (lack of
income) and the poor living conditions (dirt, low quality sanita-
tion, lack of clean water) constitute a severe health risk. Access
to health services in Roma settlements is restricted, particularly
as most were not registered at birth and therefore remain unre-
gistered in the health system. Where admission is made to a
mainstream facility it can very often be within a segregated
ward, this is discrimination. Access to quality services is a basic
right for all European citizens.

As a rule, Roma women have a low status in the
3.1.4.5
family hierarchy, poor or no schooling and consequently poor
employment opportunities. They often marry young and are
frequently pregnant. Domestic violence, which very often goes
unreported, should also not be underestimated. It is particularly
disturbing that this is now compounded by prostitution and
human trafficking.

However it is important to recognise that whilst not always
apparent to non-Roma, Roma women are also the engine of
change within the community, especially towards capacity
building and cultural change, such as highlighting the impor-
tance of education of their children especially girls. Involvement
of, and the assumption of responsibility by, mothers in parents'
associations has a very positive impact on children's schooling.

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3.1.4.6
Societal discrimination and Anti gypsism in the
form of stereotyping and prejudice facing minority commu-
nities, especially Roma, is deep rooted and stem from genera-
tions of ignorance and cultural difference. The prejudice that
these communities are of less value to society is widespread,
which only leads to further isolation, poverty, violence and
finally exclusion.

Every effort must be made to dismantle the reservations and
prejudices of Roma and non-Roma alike, by not only taking the
— necessary — practical steps, but also — with the help of
leaders and mediators on both sides — working out common
strategies for the future. Role models from the Roma commu-
nities have a particular part to play here.

3.2 Roma — A life of integration

4. The Roma and Europe

4.1 The European Commission

3.2.1
Integration is not a one-way street, but a process that
goes in two directions and demands efforts from both the mino-
rities and the majority. Fearful of having to give up their princi-
ples, traditions and identity in the course of integration, many
Roma harbour great reservations when it comes to integration
measures. Likewise the inherent discrimination over generations
makes it difficult for non-Roma to put their prejudices to one
side and welcome the Roma culture.

3.2.2
On the other hand, 40 % of Roma do not live in
poverty, but in — albeit sometimes only modest — prosperity.
These may not be the most visible Roma, but they are proof
that Roma are in essence able to integrate into the society in
which they live without renouncing their identity.

3.2.3
Numerous documentation from Roma organisations to
increase visibility, active participation in society and awareness-
raising have been produced as a progressive way forward (6).
More can be done by investing in the communities where
commitments, ownership and responsibility are made part of
the contract. The use of micro credit systems, traditionally used
for entrepreneurship, could be used as funding levers to support
infrastructure or learning systems. Funding could be given in
small amounts in return for honoured commitment such as
sending children to school or regular health visits (7).

3.2.4
The equal participation of minorities in society presup-
poses effective, durable and tailored measures. While these
should be targeted, they should not exclude other groups. They
need the will of politicians, business and society as a whole to
simultaneously apply the principle of non-discrimination,
promote equal opportunities and manage diversity. Here the
European Structural
to support
programmes.

funds

could

used

be

(6) For

example:

http://www.enar-eu.org/,

http://www.soros.org/initiatives/roma,

http://www.
romeurope.org/?page_id=14, http://www.romnews.com/community/
index.php,
http://www.unionromani.org/
union_in.htm, http://www.romanicriss.org/, http://www.erionet.org/,
http://www.grtleeds.co.uk/index.html, http://www.etudestsiganes.asso.
fr/, http://www.fnasat.asso.fr/, http://romove.radio.cz/en/, http://www.
spolu.nl/index.html.

(7) Nobel Prize 2006 Muhammad Yunus. The Bangladesh model of

Grameen Bank could be adapted for Roma communities.

The Commission has long been engaged in helping to
4.1.1
solve the problem of
integration. The establishment of a
Commission inter-services group for Roma issues a few years
ago improved the flow of
information between different
Commission services and achieved a certain measure of coordi-
nation between the numerous areas of activity.

The High Level Group on the Social

4.1.2
Integration of
Ethnic Minorities set up by the Commission in January 2006
produced its — critical — report in December 2007 (8), which
includes recommendations for ‘policies to improve the situation
of Roma in terms of education, employment, health and
housing’. The group of experts made it clear in its report that
only the right policy mix, coupled with a pragmatic approach,
could bring lasting solutions.

4.1.3
The European Union Agency for Fundamental
Rights deals with this issue in depth (9). Mention should also be
made of the wide-ranging studies, reports and events of its
predecessor, the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and
Xenophobia.

4.2 The European Parliament

4.2.1
The European Parliament has long been vigorous in its
cross-party work on minority issues, the integration of Roma
and combating their discrimination. Thus a number of reports
and resolutions on this issue have already been adopted, the
most recent on 31 January 2008 (10).

(8) ‘In spite of many programmes and initiatives targeted at Roma, change
has been slow and results have been worse than anticipated, mainly due
to structural problems. It needs to be underlined that, although equality
mainstreaming should be a strategic goal in the EU and the Member
States, specific and targeted action for Roma inclusion is needed.’ (see
footnote No 6).

(9) ‘Roma and Travellers in Public Education’, EUMC/FRA, 2006

(http://fra.europa.eu/fra/material/pub/ROMA/roma_report.pdf).

(10) Resolution adopted by the European Parliament on 31.1.2008 on a
‘Urges the European
European Strategy on the Roma, point 6:
Commission to develop a European Framework Strategy on Roma
Inclusion aimed at providing policy coherence at EU level as regards
the social inclusion of Roma and urges the Commission at the same
time to comprehensively shape a Community Action Plan on Roma
Inclusion with the task of providing financial support for realising
the European Framework Strategy on Roma
the objective of
Inclusion.’
(http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT
+TA+P6-TA-2008-0035+0+DOC+XML+V0//FR&language=FR).

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4.3 The Council

The European Council most recently addressed this
4.3.1
issue on 14 December 2007 in connection with the European
Year of Equal Opportunities (11).

4.4 The Council of Europe and OSCE

Both organisations have contributed in numerous areas to
improving the situation and are continuing their work through
measures specially targeted at Roma. Of particular importance
for the protection of minorities (and therefore the Roma) is the
CoE Framework Convention for the Protection of National
Minorities and the European Charter for Regional or Minority
Languages. The Dosta! Campaign also is an excellent positive
example to raise awareness among the majority population
about prejudices and negative stereotypes.

The

and Travellers

European Roma

4.7.3
Forum
(ERTF) (15) merits particular mention: it was set up at the initia-
tive of Finnish president Tarja Halonen and has a partnership
agreement with the Council of Europe which gives it a privi-
leged status vis-à-vis this organisation and enables it to take part
in its work.

Since one of the priority areas of Roma integration —
4.7.4
employment — falls particularly within their remit, the social
partners also have an important part to play on this front. The
experience of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC),
as well as of national trade unions and European and national
employers' organisations, can be important elements in the
process to be initiated.

5. Conclusion

The European Court of Human Rights has delivered a
4.5
series of breakthrough judgments creating important corner-
stones for the implementation of Roma rights (12).

5.1
The realisation that the all efforts so far to include Roma
and to enforce their rights have proved inadequate is a recurring
theme through all work in this area.

The United Nations has been promoting the integration
4.6
or Roma for years, especially within UNDP, UNICEF and
UNESCO.

4.7 Organised civil society

4.7.1
Bank,
2005-2015 (13).

The Open Society Institute, supported by the World
Inclusion
has

the Decade

of Roma

initiated

The recently established EU Roma Policy Coalition
4.7.2
(ERPC) (14) has pledged itself
inclusion
through participation and ‘aims to promote the participation of
Roma in all relevant processes’.

to the principle of

(11) Presidency conclusions, § 50.

In this connection,

the European
Council, which is conscious of the very specific situation faced by
the Roma across the Union, invites Member States and the Union to
use all means to improve their inclusion. To this end, it invites the
Commission to examine existing policies and instruments and to
report
to the Council on progress achieved before the end of
June 2008.
(http://www.consilium.europa.eu/cms3_fo/showPage.asp?
id=432&lang=fr&mode=g).

(12) (http://cmiskp.echr.coe.int/tkp197/portal.asp?sessionId=7828574&s-

kin=hudoc-en&action=request.

(13) The concept of the ‘Decade for Inclusion of Roma 2005-2015’ was
adopted at the June 2003 conference on ‘Roma in an expanding
Europe — Challenges for the Future’ with the active collaboration of
the Commission. The participating countries (the Czech Republic,
Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Macedonia
and Montenegro) adopted action plans which included proposals for
reaching the four main goals — education, employment, health and
housing. A Roma Education Fund was also set up at the conference.
A Roma Education Fund was also set up at this conference.
(http://www.romadecade.org/) (http://romaeducationfund.hu/).

(14) Members: Amnesty International
(ERRC), European Roma

(AI), European Roma Rights
Centre
(ERIO),
European Network against Racism (ENAR), Open Society Institute
(OSI), Spolu International Foundation (SPOLU), Minority Rights
(MRGI) and the European Roma Grassroots
Group International
Organisation (ERGO).
(http://www.romadecade.org/portal/downloads/News/Towards%20an
%20EU%20Roma%20Policy%20ERPC%20-%20Final.pdf).

Information Office

In line with Article 13 of

5.2
The necessary measures lay both within the competence
of the Union as well within the competence of the Member
States.
the Amsterdam Treaty,
non-discrimination directives were passed in 2000 and these
provide an important impetus and an institutional framework
for addressing the discrimination against Roma. The Commis-
sion should explore how Community legislation can be
expanded in order to address the situation of the Roma, such as
through adoption of a Desegregation Directive. Furthermore the
integration of Roma should be a priority in the use of structural
funds.

5.3 Where the competence for issues affecting the Roma lies
within the competence of Member State; a possible and effective
approach to a solution was found in the 1990s with the Open
Method of Coordination (OMC) (16). The Committee
proposes, therefore, building on the OMC and extending it to
minority issues, especially the integration of Roma. As a first
step, we suggest that the situation of the Roma be considered in
the different existing processes of the OMC (particularly employ-
ment, social inclusion and education). The OMC and its tools
can be shared between Member States to assess best practice
models, whilst additionally reviewing global models or grass
roots community based projects. For
those projects to be
successful and sustainable they must be cross sectorial and
building action plans with all interested parties (particularly the
Roma organisations). Those action plans must have commit-
ments,
feedback and dissemination
mechanisms, supported by adequate funding, including via the

evaluations,

activities,

(15) European Roma and Travellers Forum.
(http://www.ertf.org/en/index.html).

(16) The Lisbon European Council applied the Open Method of Coordina-
tion to the Lisbon process in the areas of employment, social protec-
tion, child rearing and education, enterprise policy, innovations policy
and research, as well as structural economic reform. The Gothenburg
European Council extended its scope to immigration and asylum.
OMC has since been extended to the area of youth issues. In its
Communication on a European agenda for culture in a globalizing
world ((COM)2007 242 final), the European Commission proposed
applying OMC to the area of culture. In so doing, it expressly stipulated
that the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social
Committee and the Committee of the Regions should be involved in
the process.

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Official Journal of the European Union

3.2.2009

the Commission — adapted it to the context of the Year of
Intercultural Dialogue.

Culture, as the Committee understands it,
is a process that
impacts on all areas of life, a proclamation of shared values, a
shared way of life, and an essential means of communication as
part of any effort towards better integration in all areas, as it
combines rationality with feelings and thus offers a holistic
approach to solving problems that need to be addressed. This
social dimension of culture helps to make intercultural dialogue
an instrument of peace and stability both internally and exter-
nally. In terms of minorities, but particularly the Roma, this
means that the intercultural dialogue is the best means to gradu-
ally do away with the stereotypes of mistrust, prejudice and lack
of understanding that have grown up over centuries and to find
together in an atmosphere of mutual respect a form of integra-
tion acceptable to both sides, underpinned by a strong legislative
framework.

that

The Committee hopes

the first concrete steps
6.2
towards implementing its proposals will be taken before the
Year of
steps
following in the course of 2009, the European Year of Creativity
and Innovation and also 2010,
for
Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion.

Intercultural Dialogue is over, with further

the European Year

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Dimitris DIMITRIADIS

Structural Funds. The Committee is convinced that the OMC is
an ideally suited and effective approach to many legal, social
and historically emotionally charged issues related to minorities,
especially Roma concerns.

5.4
The success of these initiatives will depend crucially on
whether a functioning network of cooperation between all the
players can be established. The Committee has on many occa-
sions demonstrated its added value as the bridge to organised
civil society (17) and will contribute through institutionalised,
and therefore sustainable, cooperation to tackling the integration
of minorities, especially the Roma.

The High Level Conference on Roma Inclusion planned
5.5
for September by the Commission would be an appropriate
context for public discussion of its proposals for improving the
efficiency of EU and national policies and for the first concrete
steps in this process.

On this occasion, the Committee could present the concrete
measures planned as a follow-up to this opinion. Thought
should also be given to modes of cooperation with the media
that pursue long-term goals and go beyond merely reporting on
incidents as they happen.

6. Final comments

6.1
The Committee initially began its work with reference to
the year of Equal Opportunities, but then — in agreement with

Brussels, 9 July 2008.

(17) See the work of the Consultative Commission on Industrial Change
(CCMI),
the Lisbon Group and the Liaison Group between the
European Economic and Social Committee and European civil society
organisations and networks.