EU Parliament: Anti-Gypsy prejudice, discrimination widespread in EU

© AP
2008-01-31 16:15:52 -

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - Anti-Roma sentiments are widespread in the European Union, often leading to racist attacks, abuse and police harassment, the European Parliament warned Thursday.EU member states must increase their efforts to integrate Roma and prevent «ghettoization» in estates, slums and camps, where there are no hygiene and safety standards and a large number of children die in accidents, EU lawmakers said in a resolution.

They called on the European Commission to give one of its members the responsibility for coordinating an EU-wide policy on Roma and urged it to promote Roma staff within its routinely called on the countries to do more to end the marginalization of the Roma population, setting aside millions in EU aid programs the member states can use to bolster education, housing and job programs _ to little effect in many places.

Roma are now one of the largest, poorest, and fastest growing minorities in Europe, with a total population on the continent estimated at between 7 and 9 million.