Beggars cause position of Roma to be taken up by EU

The problems of Europe’s Roma minority are being recognised and put high on the European Union’s agenda for the first time.
      The Romanian Roma beggars appearing on the streets of cities across the continent, including Helsinki and other Finnish centres, have finally opened the eyes of European citizens and decision-makers to the plight that the human rights organisations have been talking about for decades.
      “The extreme poverty and social inequality that exists in Europe has now been revealed. Many European citizens live in conditions similar to those in the developing countries and many of their basic rights fail to materialise”, says Finn Miranda Vuolasranta, Vice President of the European Roma and Travellers Forum.
      According to Vuolasranta, the EU is now forced to admit that a large portion of Europe’s 12-million strong Roma population has remained without a share in the continent's wellbeing.
     
On June 25th, the EU Commission will issue an account on how the Roma issue has been handled by the member states. This clarification is hoped to provide tools for drawing up a Europe-wide Roma programme. The matter will be discussed at the autumn’s European Council summit meeting.
      On Monday, the Roma issue was also brought up during the President of Finland Tarja Halonen’s visit to Romania. Halonen and the Romanian President Traian Basescu both expressed a wish that the autumn’s discussions would lead to the initiation of national and Union-wide integration plans for the Roma. So far 22 of the EU member states have introduced a Roma strategy. Finland does not have one.
     
Vuolasranta points out that well-meaning plans and studies alone are not enough. Activity is also required from the Roma population’s part and financial backing from the EU Structural and Cohesion Funds.
      For example, of Romania’s total population of over 22 million, the portion of the Roma is – depending on the source – between 500,000 and 2,500,000.
      Of them, around a third live below the poverty line. Many of them lack access to the most basic services and do not even have an identification card.
      “Romania is a poor country. If the aim is to raise the standard of living of the Roma there even close to the same level with the rest of the population, it is clear that Romania cannot do this alone.”


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finn working with Roma in Romania does not expect flood of beggars in Helsinki (19.2.2008)
  Many Romanians eager to escape rural poverty (19.2.2008)
  Majority of residents in Helsinki region want to ban begging (7.1.2008)
  Beggars on their knees cause consternation on Helsinki streets (21.10.2007)

See also:
  Romanian beggars set up camp on open land between highways (20.5.2008)

Links:
  European Roma and Travellers Forum