Contact group EU concerned with Roma, Sinti and Travellers matters

Good morning, ambassadors, representatives of the permanent representation to the European Union, colleagues.

I am very pleased to take part in this informal meeting of the contact group of intergovernmental organizations and institutions concerned with Roma, Sinti and Travellers matters. I am the Czech government minister for human rights and matters connected with Roma in the Czech Republic are part of my area of responsibility.

At the start of my opening remarks I would very much like to emphasize that the social inclusion of Roma is one of my highest priorities, especially at a time of growing extremism and deepening economic crisis. Unfortunately these phenomena don’t only affect the Czech Republic but almost all of Europe.

I ask myself the question, how do we want to live together in Europe if “European “ society isn’t able to be open to questions concerning minorities and other sensitive matters the inclusion of Roma, Sinti and Travellers belong among them. The Roma belong to Europe the same as any other European nation. The situation in the Czech Republic is confronted by extremism which leads to the deepening of the segregation of minority groups in the population; violence is growing especially against Roma.

The aim of the inclusion of Roma in society and a solution to the question of the integration of society is also one of the priority issues for the Czech government.

You can witness the attempts of the Czech Republic to fulfill a clear vision in the field of Roma inclusion. Together with European Commissioner Mr. Vladimir Spidla we initiated the first meeting of the Integrated European Platform for Roma Inclusion which took place on 24th April 2009 in Prague.

At that meeting the first steps were taken to start the process of a common European approach to resolving Roma issues. Many of you present here deserve great thanks for the effort and work you put in towards the preparation of the Platform. As a result of the Integrated European Platform the Common Basic Principles of Roma Inclusion came about which along with the Conclusions concerning the inclusion of Roma were adopted by the Council for Employment, Social Policy and Consumer Protection in Luxemburg on Monday 8th June 2009. This step should be seen as the start of a common journey on which individual governments, inter-governmental, international and non-governmental institutions and organizations strive to fulfill the principle of social inclusion and by supporting that process new civic and social relationships will emerge between individual groups within the population.

I’d like to express my thanks to everybody for coming to today’s meeting at which I’d like to present the results of the Czech Presidency in the field of Roma inclusion and after that I’d like to give you the opportunity to present plans and projects from your organizations and institutions in order that the process which I have already spoken about can successfully proceed. In the afternoon we will be joined by the representatives of non-governmental organizations with whom we will continue the discussion of our activities.

That discussion will lead to a stage whereby at the end of the meeting we could return to our ideas on common work for the integration of Roma, Sinti and Travellers and also the opportunities offered to us by the newly established Integrated European Platform for Roma Inclusion. An important part of the programme will present the role of international organizations in ensuring the participation of Roma representation at a national and international level.

I wish you a pleasant and productive discussion leading to clear aims.