The European Union and Roma

Misto Aviljan

Mistoalen romalen ko romano web site so i si integralno kotor katar I Europsko Komisija. O Roma si integralno importantno kotor katar I Europakiri civilizacija. `O Roma-buteder lendar si amare manusha so dzivdinena sine akate. E Europakiri buti ko prioriteto si te promovirinen i inkluzija taj i partcipacija e romenge ko bitna kotora e dzivdipaskere sar ki ekonomija, ko kulturikano dzivdipe, ko butikeribe em ki shansa te anen pere odluke. 

(Welcome to the Roma website of the European Commission! Roma are an integral part of European civilization. Most of them are our fellow-citizens. The European Union aims at promoting their full inclusion into society and their participation in the economy, in the labor market, in cultural life and in decision making.) 

Historical Background

It is believed that Romani people are descended from groups who left the Indian sub-continent towards the end of the first millennium A.D. Following a period of relative tolerance in the late middle Ages, Roma were victims of repetitive persecutions in Europe. The peak of the prosecution was during the Second World War when Roma were one of the groups which were victims of the Holocaust. 

Europe and the Roma

For the purposes of this website, the term "Roma" includes persons describing themselves as Roma, Gypsies, Travellers, Manouches, Ashkali, Sinti, as well as other terms. General use of the term Roma is in no way intended to downplay or ignore the great diversity within the many different Romani groups and related communities, nor is it intended to promote stereotypes. 

Roma are one of the biggest ethnic minorities in the EU with millions of people living in most Member States. Their situation is characterized by persisting discrimination and far-reaching social exclusion. Roma are at risk to be poor and unemployed. European and national opinion surveys show that many Europeans take negative views on this group which are often based on stereotypes and prejudice.

The European institutions and Member States have a joint responsibility to improve the social inclusion of Roma by using all the instruments and policies for which they have the respective competence. 

European Action

The European Union has a strong legal framework to combat discrimination. It uses the European Structural Funds and addresses the issue of Roma discrimination in its awareness-raising initiatives. Moreover, it coordinates a number of key policy areas which are particularly relevant for Roma inclusion, such as education, employment and social inclusion. DG EMPL has set-up in 2008 a Roma Action Group which examines the Community instruments and policies and prepared a EU Roma Summit for September 16, 2008.