{"id":8709,"date":"2025-06-02T11:13:55","date_gmt":"2025-06-02T11:13:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pulse-z.eu\/roma-in-the-eu-a-promise-of-equality-still-unfulfilled-2\/"},"modified":"2025-06-12T08:45:19","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T08:45:19","slug":"les-roms-dans-lue-une-promesse-degalite-toujours-non-tenue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pulse-z.eu\/fr\/les-roms-dans-lue-une-promesse-degalite-toujours-non-tenue\/","title":{"rendered":"Les Roms dans l'UE : une promesse d'\u00e9galit\u00e9 toujours non tenue"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This year, in a joint statement, European Commission representatives \u2014 Executive Vice-President Roxana M\u00eenzatu, Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, and Commissioner Marta Kos \u2014 reminded us that the Romani people have been an integral part of Europe\u2019s cultural fabric for over seven centuries. Yet, they continue to face discrimination and exclusion that stand in stark contrast to the core values of the European Union.<\/span><\/p>\n

Twelve Million Voices Still Unheard <\/p>\n

The Roma are the largest ethnic minority in Europe, with a population estimated between 10 and 12 million \u2014 around 6 million of whom are EU citizens. Yet their everyday reality often strays far from the ideals the Union proclaims.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the EU’s foundation on principles of equality and human rights, Roma communities continue to be denied those very rights. The reasons? Entrenched prejudice, systemic exclusion, and lack of access to basic services such as clean water and adequate nutrition.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>disparity<\/span><\/a> between the Roma and the broader EU population is striking \u2014 from education to employment, housing to healthcare. An alarming 80% of Roma in the EU are at risk of poverty, compared to just 17% of the general population.<\/span><\/p>\n

A Decade-Long Plan \u2014 But Will It Deliver? <\/p>\n

To address these inequalities, the European Commission launched the <\/span>EU Roma Strategic Framework 2030<\/span><\/i> in 2020<\/span><\/a> \u2014 a roadmap with clear goals for both Member States and candidate countries.<\/span><\/p>\n

Among its priorities are reducing the poverty gap, improving housing conditions, and tackling the educational segregation of Roma children. Though the strategy also extends beyond the EU to the Western Balkans and Turkey, its success hinges on one crucial factor: the commitment of national governments.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Commission has urged countries to speed up the implementation of their national Roma integration plans. Without genuine political will, sustained funding, and concrete actions, the strategy risks remaining a well-intentioned but ultimately ineffective document.<\/span><\/p>\n

Education, Health, Employment \u2014 The Realities of Roma Life <\/p>\n

Despite efforts and support from European funding instruments \u2014 including the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) \u2014 the gap between Roma communities and the rest of society remains vast.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many Roma children still attend segregated schools or classes. Adequate housing is often out of reach. Access to healthcare remains limited, and exclusion from the labour market persists.<\/span><\/p>\n

The EU continues to call for stronger action \u2014 but it also stresses that Roma must be at the heart of this change. Representation in political, social, and public life remains minimal. Yet no one is better placed to advocate for the Roma than Roma themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

Remembering Forgotten Crimes, Reviving Collective Memory <\/p>\n

Historical and educational initiatives are also key components of the Commission\u2019s efforts. Through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme, the EU funds projects that commemorate Roma Holocaust victims, combat anti-Gypsyism, and support Roma civil society organisations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Initiatives like <\/span>ROMACT<\/span><\/i><\/a>, <\/span>EQUIROM<\/span><\/i><\/a>, and <\/span>RomaMemory<\/span><\/i><\/a> aim to restore the dignity and visibility of Roma heritage and history.<\/span><\/p>\n

Annual events like <\/span>Roma Week<\/span><\/a> at the European Parliament \u2014 held this year for the eighth time from April 7 to 10 \u2014 symbolize solidarity with the Roma people, while also underscoring the work that remains unfinished.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ukraine, the Balkans, Turkey \u2014 Roma Beyond the EU <\/p>\n

The Roma population extends well beyond the EU\u2019s borders. Around 4 million Roma live in EU candidate countries such as Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia, and Turkey. Ukraine alone is home to an estimated 400,000 Roma, according to the World Union of Roma and the Council of Europe.<\/span><\/p>\n

These communities are not excluded from EU efforts. The <\/span>Roma Integration Phase III<\/span><\/i> project supports governments in aligning their strategies with the EU model to accelerate integration.<\/span><\/p>\n

But progress demands more than just funding \u2014 it requires lasting political will and societal transformation. Combating deeply rooted anti-Gypsyism calls for education, courage, and long-term engagement.<\/span><\/p>\n

International Romani Day \u2014 More Than Just a Symbol <\/p>\n

April 8 commemorates the first World Roma Congress, held in 1971, which laid the foundation for a shared Roma identity rooted in common language, history, and culture. The date has since become a symbol of unity and pride \u2014 but also a reminder of how much work remains.<\/span><\/p>\n

More than 50 years later, Roma people are still waiting for true equality. The European Commission does not underestimate the challenge \u2014 the road ahead is long.<\/span><\/p>\n

But every step counts. Every school that welcomes Roma children, every policy crafted with their needs in mind, every social or cultural initiative \u2014 brings us closer to a Europe where no one is left behind.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This year, in a joint statement, European Commission representatives \u2014 Executive Vice-President Roxana M\u00eenzatu, Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, and Commissioner Marta Kos \u2014 reminded us that the Romani people have been an integral part of Europe\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":158,"featured_media":6745,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[675],"tags":[],"post_formats":[616],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-8709","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-diversite-et-inclusion","post_formats-articles-fr"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pulse-z.eu\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8709","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pulse-z.eu\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pulse-z.eu\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pulse-z.eu\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/158"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pulse-z.eu\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8709"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pulse-z.eu\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8709\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8710,"href":"https:\/\/www.pulse-z.eu\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8709\/revisions\/8710"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pulse-z.eu\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6745"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pulse-z.eu\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8709"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pulse-z.eu\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8709"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pulse-z.eu\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8709"},{"taxonomy":"post_formats","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pulse-z.eu\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_formats?post=8709"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pulse-z.eu\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=8709"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}