(28 June 2016) – Today, the European Commission adopted its annual report on Roma integration. The Commission urges Member States to demonstrate greater political will and a long-term vision to combat discrimination of Roma people.
This year’s assessment provides, for the first time, an overview of the measures put in place by Member States following the 2013 Council Recommendation on effective Roma integration measures, which required them to develop National Roma Integration strategies to promote access of Roma to education, employment, healthcare and housing.
The report shows that Member States have achieved progress in a number of areas, but more efforts are still needed:
- Not enough measures were taken against the exclusion from the workplace and forced evictions of Roma have continued in 2015 without any offer of alternative housing.
- Better use of EU funds for the integration of marginalised communities.
- Closer cooperation with civil society and local authorities. Several Member States have established coordination structures for Roma integration, involving diverse stakeholders.
The Commission calls on Member States to step up efforts to enforce anti-discrimination legislation and eliminate segregation in education and housing to prevent forced evictions.