On 19 May the ministers adopted conclusions on an EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies up to 2020, inviting the member states to pursue goals in the fields of education, employment, healthcare and housing, so as to close the gaps between marginalised Roma communities and the general population. Now, the EU Hungarian presidency intends to report the outcome of the various discussions to the General Affairs Council on 23 May and to European Council on 24 June.

This extraordinary EPSCO meeting based on the European Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies presented by the European Commission on 5 April 2011, focused on two questions: how to advance Roma inclusion by means of a comprehensive national approach and how to ensure a more effective use of funds. In particular, the Member states should improve access to quality services in the fields of education and healthcare, as well as access to housing and employment. Integrated action covering all four priority areas is needed and the member states should pay special attention to the gender dimension and promote desegregation.

According to the Council, despite efforts at national, European and international level to advance Roma inclusion, many Roma still face deep poverty, profound social exclusion, barriers in exercising fundamental rights, and discrimination, which often means limited access to quality education, jobs and services, low income levels, sub-standard housing conditions, poor health and lower life expectancy. This situation does not only affect Roma, but also has an economic cost for society as a whole, including through the waste of human capital and loss of productivity.

Therefore, national strategies or integrated sets of policy measures are to be drawn up by the Member States by the end of 2011. They are also invited to consider the need to advance the social and economic inclusion of Roma when designing, implementing and monitoring their National Reform Programmes in the context of the Europe 2020 Strategy. In addition, together with the Commission, they are invited to make better use of the EU funds available for Roma integration projects.