EU strategy on Roma inclusion

Roma people suffer from multiple forms of discrimination in the EU.

In some Member States, like France and Greece, they have been subjected to violent forced evictions. In others, like Hungary, they endure violence, racist hate crimes and hate speech by extremist groups which escape prosecution.

For several years the EU has been working on a strategy to improve Roma integration and empower individuals with Roma backgrounds.

The Greens believe that the most effective strategy on Roma inclusion would be one proposed by Roma people themselves.

It is important that such a strategy puts an end to anti-Gypsyism, discrimination and escalating - but often legally tolerated - violence against Roma people in the EU.

The Greens also favour policies that put an end to the practice of Roma child marriages and promote gender emancipation.

The Greens succeeded in introducing several demands into the text adopted by Parliament that calls for an end to multiple discrimination against Roma people.

We also secured majority support for our demand to facilitate access to public funding for Roma people, to ensure that integration initiatives are solidly financed.

The Greens were unable to convince a majority in Parliament to adopt a legally binding instrument.

Instead of a framework strategy, we would have liked to see the enactment of such an instrument that would allow the Commission to initiate infringement proceedings against Member States that violate Roma people's human rights.