Events

Roma in an Enlarged Europe. Lívia Jároká MEP

With the Roma issue gaining more and more prominence in the European debate, this session will provide an opportunity for you to become more fully informed about the situation of Roma in an enlarged Europe.

Within the framework of Working Group D (December 7, 17:45 to 18:30), an invited expert will give a presentation examining the schism between international legal frameworks and their implementation, concluding with key recommendations for the European Parliament.

This talk forms the first in a series of events to be organized by the EPP Roma working group, of which I am delighted to act as coordinator. The EPP Roma working group is being established on the initiative of Mr. Viktor Orbán, Vice-President of the EPP party and former Prime Minister of Hungary. Mr. Orbán will attend the Roma in an Enlarged Europe discussion.

The preliminary meeting to formally establish the EPP Roma working group, presided over by Mr. Orbán shall take place Tuesday 7 December (17:00 to 17:45, A5 F385). At this meeting, we shall begin our first constructive dialogue, exchange initial ideas and set a draft agenda.

It is envisaged that this group would meet every third month under the leadership of Mr. Orbán. In the framework of this group, we plan to produce a report next year, stimulate debate, make recommendations and produce an EPP Roma statement of intent which we hope to introduce and discuss at future occasions within the working group and at an EPP Roma conference in May, 2005.

You are warmly invited to attend both these events as your support will help ensure that EPP-ED leads the way in European Roma issues. The establishment of this Roma working group is a ground-breaking first step as it is the first body to deal directly and exclusively with Roma issues. The issue of Roma political participation and representation has already been addressed by our group by supporting me, a Romani MEP, and I hope that now, together and through this Roma working group, we can build on that.