EU: Bloc to hold first Roma Gypsy summit

Brussels, 29 August (AKI) - The European Union will on 16 September in Brussels hold its first summit on the Roma Gypsies, said the EU executive.

The summit will examine measures to combat the "persistent discrimination" Roma Gypsies face in Europe, the European Commission said in a statement.

"It aims to promote a firm commitment to tackling concrete problems and to creating a better understanding of the situation of Roma across Europe," the European Commission stated.

The meeting will also help identify "policies that work" in better integrating Roma Gypsies in mainsteam society and highlighting the problems their communities face.

More 400 representatives from EU institutions, national governments and parliaments and non-government organisations, including Roma groups will be at the summit.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, Justice and Security Commissioner Jacques Barrot , Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Huebner, Employment, Social affairs and Equal opportunities commissioner Vladimir Spidla, Education, Training, Culture and Youth Commissioner Jan Figel are among top EU officials due to attend.

France's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner will attend on behalf of the French EU Presidency as well as several ministers from EU states and candidate countries, the European Commission said.

Following the enlargement of the European Union in 2004 and 2007 to countries such as Slovakia and Romania, Roma communities now represent one of the largest ethnic minorities in the EU.

"However, the richness these communities could bring to European society is often overlooked, tainted by stereotypes and prejudices that manifest themselves in the form of economic, social and political discrimination," the European Commission stated.

The European Commission last month completed a review of existing EU resources and policies to help the Roma Gypsies integrate and and progress achieved.