Roma in Europe miss out on security and prosperity, says OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities

OSLO, 25 April 2008 - The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Knut Vollebaek, said that the Roma population in Europe have missed out on the new security arrangements as well as on prosperity. 

Speaking in Oslo on Thursday, Vollebaek said: "The Roma in Europe have to a large extent fallen outside the new security and prosperity in Europe. My institution, together with the 2008 Finnish OSCE Chairmanship and other European institutions, is working to find solutions to the comprehensive problems facing Roma today, both in order to alleviate their difficult situation."

The Roma are generally acknowledged to be the most marginalized minority in Europe.
While many countries have set objectives for the inclusion of Roma in their national legislation and policies, in practice sufficient measures have not been taken in order to stop discrimination against Roma and to integrate them into society.

Vollebaek's office, located in the Hague, is closley following the new migration movements of Roma from East to West of Europe, after the enlargement of the European Union.

"We believe it is important to develop mechanisms to avoid the side affects of Roma migration taking into account the situation of children, women and the vulnerable parts of the Roma society," said Vollebaek. "Both the home countries of the departing Roma and the countries of destination are responsible for offering more opportunities and securing equal rights. Of particular importance are education, job opportunities, health care and housing conditions."

Roma and Sinti issues are one of the priorities of the Finnish Chairmanship. A review of the implementation of the 2003 OSCE Roma Action Plan will be conducted this summer to assess how participating States and the Organization have been transforming the commitments into action. Roma issues will also be dicussed at an OSCE human dimension supplementary meeting in Vienna in July.