EU calls for improvement of situation of Roma in Europe

Improving the situation for Roma people is one of the biggest challenges Europe is facing, said the European Union Monday on the occasion of the International Roma Day. "Making a real difference to their daily lives requires long term commitments, adequate resources, and concerted action at local, regional, national and European level," said EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs Laszlo Andor and EU Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn, in a joint statement. "The EU has laid down a strong framework for action and Member States have drawn up national strategies for Roma inclusion. This is a good first step. The key is now to make sure these policies are implemented on the ground," it noted. Last week, the human rights organisation, Amnesty International, called on the European Union to do more to end discrimination against Roma people throughout its 27 member states. Roma people are commonly known as Gypsies. Roma across the continent continue to face widespread discrimination in areas including access to housing, health care, employment and education, said Amnesty in a statement. Amnesty noted that the six million Roma people who live in EU countries fall far below national averages on almost all human development indicators: eight out of ten are at risk of poverty, and only one in seven young adults completes secondary education.