Address by State Minister Marko Bela on the identification of concrete ways to involve the European Commission in the Roma Inclusion Decade program, delivered at the International Coordination Committee of Roma Inclusion Decade of Brussels

Mr. Commissioner,
Ladies and gentlemen,

First of all, I would like to thank all the participants in the session of the International Coordination Committee of Roma Inclusion Decade, having both the certitude that the efforts made by all of us in this program will led to the fulfillment of the initial objectives, and the hope that all citizens of our states will join these efforts, in order to confer a durable and irreversible character to the results which we have achieved so far and we will achieve further on.

This international program aims at creating a joint working framework for the actions meant to improve the situation of the Roma of the Central and East Europe . The nine states that chose to involve in this vast project include regions which face similar problems regarding the Roma minority. The responsibility for the improvement of the Roma population's living standards falls to every state but the success of this process depends to a large extent on the approach of the phenomenon in its entirety through coordinated actions. The fundamental value of solidarity lies at the very core of this project, as well as of the European project.

The Roma Inclusion Decade meets the need of cooperation and solidarity in the finding of the most efficient solutions for the sensitive and rapid improvement of the difficult situation this community faces.

Romania continues to make considerable efforts to consolidate and deepen the results of Roma population's social inclusion. In this respect, we try to impose an action line based on three principles which should be understood both by the political decision makers and the society in its totality:
• First of all, the actions at individual level are not sufficient, and an overall approach is needed;
• Secondly, there should be understood that the current situation of Roma population, taken in its entirety is not only a social problem, but one of cultural and ethnic order;
• Thirdly, I want to express my firm conviction that this problem cannot be properly solved without an active involvement of the Roma community in the decision making process at all levels.

I consider that these guiding principles to reduce the discrepancy existing between the Roma ethnic citizens and the majority population perfectly comply with the objectives set by the European Commission for the action of 2007, year declared through the decision of the Council and the European Parliament of June 2nd 2006 as ”European Year of equal opportunities for all”. I want to invite the participants in this event to take advantage of this opportunity to present concrete mechanisms and actions to make this international program comply with the European Commission's program.

I would like to underline a very important aspect regarding the consequences of the transition processes of Central and East Europe . The Roma population was and is further exposed at the highest risk of impoverishment on these long transition years and as for the benefits of economic growth and political stability, the Roma minority ranks the last in the classification of those who benefit of these achievements. For this reason, I believe that we need more concrete actions in this project.

The Inclusion Decade represents a complex approach of Roma related problems, an approach which allows tackling all aspects this ethnic group deals with in the Central and East Europe countries, such as education, health, employment, and accommodation and discrimination problem. The Inclusion Decade also represents a political commitment undertaken by nine Governments to reduce the discrepancies between the Roma population and the majority population both in the economic and social life, through the implementation of public policies, measures and programs to break the vicious cycle of poverty and social exclusion.

As for the responsibility and the political will to considerably improve the situation of Roma origin population, Romania has undertaken the first mandate as president of the Roma Inclusion Decade, and thus, it has given a clear signal of involvement in the solving of its problems. In this capacity, it had to achieve a very important mission, to lay the bases of the cooperation among the nine states involved in this vast process.

The most important step so far has been taken on the first official meeting chaired by Romania – through the adoption of the Reference Terms of the Roma Inclusion 2005 – 2015, after they have been for two years the object of a process of consultations among the nine Governments involved. Furthermore, once with the signature of the Reference Terms, there has been set up a Trust Fund – as yearly contribution from the Governments, representing a clear proof of the will to actively involve in solving the problems related to the Roma minority of the respective countries.

On this first period of the Roma Inclusion Decade, we have succeeded in identifying a series of principles, directions to follow, working instruments, as well as a general framework to guide the activities.

This action which we started together enjoys not only the civil society's interest but also the interest of the ethnic communities directly involved at national level, and the support of some European and international institutions such as the European Commission, the Council of Europe, World Bank or the Foundation for an Open Society.

I would like to mention the fact that, from an European viewpoint, the Roma Inclusion Decade is also an important cooperation and collaboration exercise since it brings at the same table both the EU member states, candidate states or acceding states, and states which are at the beginning of the European integration path.

I want to conclude this address by underlining the European solidarity value which should unite the citizens, the administrations, politicians and the civil society beyond the current EU borders. As a materialization of this solidarity, I consider that this project can successfully be considered as an added value brought to the EU neighboring policy, because the foundation of this policy lies in the fundamental freedoms and rights materialized in concerted action plans in an environment of efficient multilateralism.

Cabinet of State Minister in charge with coordination of the activities in the field of culture, education and European integration - 12.06.2006