International Roma Day - MEP calls for real push to end discrimination

3.34.18pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 8th Apr 2008

On International Roma Day, London's Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford has called for a stronger EU-wide programme to help end race discrimination, racially motivated violence and hate speech against Roma people and to ensure equality in access to jobs and education.

She said:

"Roma people suffer systematic discrimination in jobs, health and housing and are still sometimes subjected to the crudest racist abuse and persecution. They must be afforded equal protection and opportunities across the EU in line with EU laws.

"The EU's Fundamental Rights Agency is right that 'the situation of Roma and travellers and the discrimination they face is a European concern requiring a common European response'. EU governments have indeed recognised the 'very specific situation faced by the Roma across the Union" and urged inclusion policies.

"But we need now a coordinated EU-wide policy, developed in partnership with the Roma communities themselves, which translates these ambitions into vigorous and effective action. The European Commission progress report due in June needs to be hard-hitting."