2005 -
European Commission reports are usually very diplomatic documents, but the 2005 Comprehensive Monitoring Report for Romania has an unexpected share of harsh criticism addressed to the officials in Bucharest. Worried by the widespread and largely accepted anti-Gypsyism in Romanian society, the Commission has used uncharacteristically strong, yet appropriate language:
"Despite promising efforts, the situation of the Roma minority still requires fundamental improvements. Public expression of racism against vulnerable groups, such as Roma, should be brought to an end."
"The Romanian authorities should demonstrate, at all levels, that the country applies a zero-tolerance policy on racism against Roma or against any other minority or group and that this policy is effectively implemented"
These are unarguably the strongest statements of the Report, which emphasizes some other deep problems Romania needs to resolve before its accession to the EU. They are very far from the usual diplomatic, and often empty, niceties of present and previous Roma-related parts of country reports, and reflect the determination of the European Commission to finally tackle anti-Gypsyism which is, shamefully, one of the very few still-accepted species of European racism.
In the sections addressing Roma issues, the Report keeps its "traditional" format, which mixes the positive developments with ambiguous observational criticism.
The Commission continues to underline discrimination faced by Roma as it did in previous reports: "de facto discrimination against the Roma minority, especially at local level, continues to be widespread, in particular as regards housing and access to social services and the labour market."
"There have been reports of cases of traffic accidents involving Roma victims being closed without a full investigation being carried out."
When it comes to recommendations and measures, the Commission falls short of making concrete suggestions.
The health system receives a very general recommendation, which might easily be interpreted as empty: "to reach out to the most vulnerable groups, such as the Roma minority."
The ambiguous, unsuccessful but well-established criticism formulated as the "need for further efforts", the "need to ensure/enhance" and the "need of improvement" from the Comission's reports is repeatedly expressed in the Report on Romania:
"…further efforts are necessary to effectively implement the priorities identified in the Joint Assessment Paper of Employment Policy Priorities in a more coherent and effective way, including the integration of ethnic minority groups, in particular Roma, on the labour market."
"…further efforts are needed to improve the situation of vulnerable groups and promote their full integration into society, such as Roma community, who faces extremely high risks of poverty, exclusion and isolation across the country"
"…access to social assistance needs to be improved, in particular for the Roma minority."
"… Romania needs to ensure that this action plan is properly resourced and implemented."
"…[need] to ensure the effective integration of the Roma minority in particular as regards access to housing, social services and the labour market."
"…access to health services, particularly for the Roma minority, needs to be enhanced…"
There is no indication of how Romania should "ensure/enhance" its performance regarding these objectives, and previous years' reports similarly neglected to elaborate on appropriate steps to securing these objectives.
The 2005 report on Romania is a clear step forward from the Commission when it comes to Roma-related issues. The report unexpectedly goes beyond its normal observational and diplomatic boundaries. Much of its language is still delicate and ambiguous in most of its content, but hopefully the authorities in Bucharest will take heed of the explicit criticism and start seriously looking at structural ways to improve the currently deplorable situation of its Roma citizens.
