Thread by @donath_anna

Today, in @EP_Justice, we will discuss the draft report by my colleague and rapporteur @RomeoFranz1 on the implementation of National Roma Integration Strategies of which I am the @RenewEurope shadow. Looking forward to an important first exchange!

.@RomeoFranz1 presents the stern reality of ppl w/ Romani bckgrd in the #EU: w/ many living below poverty line, often with no running water, reduced or no access to housing, healthcare, education, employment. Segregation is widespread & #COVIDー19 has only strengthened this.

I agree w/ our rapporteur: the current Framework has allowed to put the issue on the EU agenda but results are unsatisfactory at best.

We need more binding targets and develop programmes together w/ Romani & pro-Romani CSOs and communities EU-wide.

I agree with Daniel Strauss from @RomnoKher.

We need to put an end to the partenalistic approach that we often take when it comes to supporting ppl w/ Romani bckgrd. We have to create solutions together with communities, empower people and ensure equal participation.

.@MichaelCJT highlights that half of Romani ppl recently faced antigypsy harrassment.

He calls EU & MS to work WITH Roma ppl, esp. women, locally. But importantly, he also mentions the need to work w/ the whole of society & address antigypsyism wh #COVIDー19 has only emphasized.

It is ironic to hear @JarokaLivia passionately plead for Roma @EP_Justice & deplore funds not reaching beneficiaries. How come she's much less vocal in 🇭🇺 where the gvt led by her party since 10 yrs w/ a ⅔ majority in Parliament allowed the situation to continuously worsen?

Where was she when the extreme right organised marches in Roma villages? Or, when compensation was to be paid to segregated kids, Orban complained about money going to people "who do not do any work"? Or last week when antigypsy protests took place in Budapest?

What has she ever done to stop the rise of hate speech in Hungary? Especially when her own party on power not only closes a blind eye on rising hate speech but actively encourages it?

Agree with @DobrevKlara: The EU has been discussing the issues at hand today for decades. It is time that the EU leads the way & that we avoid that in 10 years, we hold the same discussions deploring the same issues. We have to act now and set up a framework with binding targets.

We must seriously address antigypsyism and its far-reaching social, economic & human rights effects.

For that, a first step is that MS properly implement existing anti-discrimination legislation and that Council urgenlty adopt the horizontal anti-discrimination directive.

The EU also has to lead by example: it should introduce a Roma mainstreaming policy at EU level so as to integrate the perspective of ppl w/ Romani bckgrd in all stages & levels of EU policies, programmes and projects.

A number of gvts instrumentalize hate speech & stereotypes already deeply rooted in society to advance their political narratives based on the scapegoating of anyone who can be portrayed as "different".

Such attitudes must be addressed as abuse of power and #RuleOfLaw issues.

Finally, a key priority is to make sure that funds do reach their intended beneficiaries and are fit for purpose.

For that, we need to involve local authorities, communities and NGOs and focus funding on local projects, advocacy, capacity building as well as litigation.