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In view of recent anti-Roma incidents in several EU countries, MEPs voiced concerns that the Commission is not doing enough to address the issue.

Talking about the EU's Roma strategy, Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou promised that it will not remain an empty paper and will complement existing EU legislation on anti-discrimination.

Speaking on behalf of the Council,  Elzbieta Radziszewska , Poland's Secretary of State for Equality, called it a shame that many of Europe's 10 million Roma people live in extreme poverty and isolation. "The Council will provide political support for member states to prepare their national strategies," she said.

"Adopting a Roma strategy is just the beginning," said Hungarian Christian Democrat Lívia Járóka , who drafted an EP report the subject earlier this year. "Complex programmes will be needed to achieve results."

Romanian Liberal Renate Weber  urged the Commission to enforce fundamental rights and considers the expulsion of Roma from several member states as unacceptable, while Italian EFD member Mara Bizzotto  was critical of the Roma strategy, calling it hypocritical. She wondered why the EU spends money on inclusion if the Roma population has no intention of integrating into the societies in which they live. .

Italian EPP member Roberta Angelilli focused on the situation of Roma minors and cited a survey which said only 40% of Roma children attend primary school and 10% receive secondary education. The EU average for primary school attendance is 97%.

Austrian Socialist  Hannes Swoboda complained that there is a lack of exact information on national strategies and on how EU funds are used to improve the lives of the Roma community.

The Commission adopted an EU Roma strategy in April 2011, which focuses on improving access to housing, education, jobs and healthcare. EU countries have until the end of 2011 to submit strategies setting out how they want to achieve these goals.

Ms Vassiliou said that after the Commission has evaluated the national strategies, it will report to the EP on its findings early 2012.