Plenary debate on stopping Roma discrimination

The EPP Group has requested a debate and a parliamentary Resolution at the next plenary session of the European Parliament on the inclusion of Roma people in EU Member States. Today, 8 April, is the 50th anniversary of the declaration of the Roma Nation during the first World Romani Congress in 1971. But equal treatment for Roma people in the EU has yet to happen.

“Millions of Euros have been distributed to EU Member States for better inclusion of Roma people, yet basic sanitary conditions for many of them are still missing. Roma children struggle to have equal access to education and their parents have difficulties in getting decent jobs. And matters have turned even worse due to COVID-19. Let’s stop being overly ambitious and let’s make things work”, urged Peter Pollák MEP, EPP Group Spokesman for Roma inclusion.

With the plenary debate and the parliamentary Resolution, the EPP Group wants the European Parliament to define commitments on how to stop the discrimination of Roma and how to unlock their human and economic potential.

Esteban González Pons MEP, EPP Group Vice-Chairman, added: “The EU must stand for the values it is built on, justice and equality for all citizens, including Roma. Equal access to education for Roma will be a game changer for the European labour market. Europe must not and cannot leave Roma behind."

Read more about the EPP Group's concrete proposals for an EU strategy on Roma inclusion in its Position Paper.