Statement by Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission and EU Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, on the Roma situation in Europe

"During the past few weeks, the situation of the Roma – the largest ethnic minority in the European Union – has attracted the attention of policy-makers at both national and EU levels.

MEMO/10/384

Brussels, 25 August, 2010

As EU Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, I have been closely following issues involving the Roma since I took office. I believe that the Roma are an important part of the population of the European Union, and that it is of paramount importance that they are well integrated into the societies of our Member States. On 7 April, on a joint initiative of László Andor, the EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, and myself, the European Commission adopted a Communication on the social and economic integration of Roma in Europe (IP/10/407; MEMO/10/121). The subject was discussed the day after at the Roma Summit in Cordoba – which both László Andor and I attended – and the Commission's Communication was endorsed by the Ministers in charge of Employment and Social Affairs in June.

Against this background, I have been following with great attention and some concern the developments over the past days in France as well as the debate sparked in several other Member States. On the one hand, I fully acknowledge that it is the sole responsibility of Member States to ensure public order and the safety of their citizens on their national territory. On the other hand, I expect that all Member States respect the commonly agreed EU rules on free movement, non-discrimination and the common values of the European Union, notably the respect for fundamental rights, including the rights of people belonging to minorities.

It is clear that those who break the law need to face the consequences. It is equally clear that nobody should face expulsion just for being Roma.

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