Minister for Human Resources Zoltán Balog met with member of the French Senate’s European Affairs Committee Michael Billout, who is preparing a report on the situation of the Roma for his committee.

At this meeting, the Minister informed Mr Billout about the Hungarian Government’s most important measures aimed at facilitating integration of the Roma, underlining the significance of the role of education and boosting employment. Minister Balog emphasised that it is important that free movement within the EU, considered primarily as an asset, not become an opportunity misused by criminal groups.

Mr Billout informed the minister about the problem of anti-Roma attitudes in France, which creates difficulties in the implementation of programs at a local level. He also emphasised that parallel to the EU-level concept, strong national strategies are also essential and added that what Minister Balog has told him so far is very encouraging. Mr Billout will submit his report to the French Senate on 15 October, 2012.

(Ministry of Human Resources)