London MEP Jean Lambert has denounced the continuing discrimination against Roma people on the 2015 International Roma Day, marked around the world today.

Jean said:

‘Full equality for Europe’s Roma minority is still an unacceptably distant dream. The EU has made significant efforts to make equality a reality but it presently remains acceptable for politicians in some countries to make racist remarks about Roma, inevitably resulting in more discrimination.

‘With the far-right Front National coming 2nd in France’s local elections held this week, it is a sobering day to take stock and realise that unless we fight discrimination and bigotry in all its forms, wherever and to whomever it is directed, we are not putting enough distance between 2015 and Europe’s darkest days.

‘The battle to over-come prejudices directed at Roma people, and to end discrimination, is part of the struggle for social justice and a better world – for which we all share responsibility.

‘At a governmental level, all EU governments must adopt policies promoting the safety, welfare, and equal opportunities for their Roma citizens, and be willing to contribute the required resources to make this happen.’

Here is the speech from the President of the European Parliament at  the opening of the International Roma Day Conference.

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Speaking ahead of International Roma Day, which is marked around the world tomorrow, April 8th, the London Green MEP said Roma people remain Europe’s most discriminated minority.

“We need to get serious about promoting the human rights of all – and stamping out racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism- if we are to realise full equality for Europe’s Roma minority,” she said.

“The EU has made significant efforts to do just this – but they haven’t really taken root yet.

“It remains acceptable for politicians to make racist remarks about Roma, and this in turn leads to an increase in state-sponsored discrimination, mistrust and even violence.

“The French government, for example, continues to force Roma families into homelessness and even deportation after evicting them from ‘illegal’ settlements, while children with blue eyes were forcibly taken from their Roma guardians, amid false claims of child abduction, in Ireland and Greece last year.

“And the anti-Roma rhetoric and intimidation is getting worse in some places: just this week the racist Jobbik party polled 21% in a national election in Hungary.

“All EU governments must adopt specific policies to promote the welfare of all their Roma citizens and put the necessary resources into making this happen.”

For more information on International Roma Day, click here .

Hungary’s national election took place on Sunday: it saw Fidesz leader and PM Viktor Orban re-elected with 45% of the vote, the left-win alliance Unity poll 25%, Jobbik score 21% – and the green LMP returned to parliament with 6% of the vote.

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The documentary ‘Vortex’, which was handed the Premier Award by the British Film and Video Council at the Learning on Screen Awards in March, follows the lives of young Roma children and their families living in poverty in a remote village in rural Hungary. Often denied their rights to housing, employment, healthcare and education, Roma suffer massive discrimination throughout Europe, evidenced by forced evictions, racist attacks and police ill-treatment [1].

Newham is now home to the largest Polish Roma community in the UK, some of whom have suffered persecution in their home country as well as some from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and other former Soviet Union countries where discrimination is still rife. Following the screening, there was an in-depth discussion to explore how east London boroughs like Newham can help shape policies at both a national and European level to help improve the quality of life for Roma communities across the UK.

Speaking after the screening, Jean, a member of the European Parliament Anti-Racism Group, said: “Across Europe, millions of Roma are facing pervasive discrimination and prejudice, yet the EU is failing to hold national governments to account.  It is the duty of the EU and its Member States to take the necessary action to break this cycle of discrimination, poverty and exclusion faced by one of Europe’s oldest ethnic minorities.

“Newham, with its vibrant and thriving Roma community, has a real role to play in making recommendations to the EU on how to deliver greater equality for Roma and end the prejudice and isolation faced by many across Europe.   However, examples of best practice must start at home – we all have a role to play in developing a community in which intolerance is rejected outright and we must renew our pledge to continue to fight for true Roma equality in both Newman and the UK.”

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