MINELRES: President Barroso: Roma an important issue for the European Commission

[MINELRES moderator]

Original sender: Valeriu Nicolae <valeriu.nicolae@erionet.org>


Press Release - European Roma Information Office (ERIO) 
 
President Barroso - Roma an important issue for the European Commission 
 
Brussels, 18 March 2005 (ERIO)

 
On 17th of March during the launch of the "Lisbon Scorecard V", event
organised by The Centre for European Reform and APCO Europe President
Barroso talked about the Lisbon strategy and answered a series of
questions from the participants. 
 
ERIO asked President Barroso about the situation of the 8 to 10 million
Roma in Europe who score the lowest in 10 of the 14 main indicators of
the Lisbon Strategy from all European ethnic groups and about concrete
actions European Commission is willing to take to tackle the abysmal
living conditions and strong social exclusion of Roma in Europe. 
 
Underlining the importance and late visibility of the subject President
Barosso said that the Commission through its high level Group of
Commissioners on Fundamental Rights will pay attention to the many
issues afecting Roma population in Europe. President Barroso also said
that Lisbon Strategy should also benefit Roma as well as other
disadvantaged groups. 
 
The switch from aknowledgements to concrete and focused actions as in
fact advocated by President Barrosso needs to be reflected in the case
of Roma who continue to remain the most discriminated European ethnic
group in Europe concluded the organisation based in Brussels. 
 
For more information see http://www.erionet.org/Antigypsyism.html
 
Valeriu Nicolae Executive Director ad interim ERIO 
European Roma Information Office 
Avenue Edouard Lacomble 17 , Brussels 1040 
BELGIUM
 
Tel: 0032 (0) 2733 34 62 
Fax: 0032 2733 3875 
Mobile: 0032 (0) 476538194 
 
www.erionet.org