Sweden's government Friday called for the European Commission to act on the
rights of Europe's Roma community, saying their situation was "alarming".
"Given the alarming situation, the Swedish government urges the Commission to
take further steps" for the rights of the Roma people, said EU affairs minister
Birgitta Ohlsson along with integration and gender equality minister Nyamko
Sabuni in a joint letter.
Measures could include "the establishment of a binding plan of action
containing specific measures for guaranteeing access to housing, education and
the labour market" backed by funding from the European Social Fund, the
ministers said.
In the letter, which was sent to commissioners Viviane Redding and Laszlo
Andor, the Swedish ministers added their government could be compelled to "take
an initiative in this regard to the Council of Ministers" of the European Union
if the Commission -- the EU's executive arm -- did not take the steps to "put a
stop to human rights violations of the Roma."
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