Prime Minister Viktor Orbán declared at the Roma Affairs Council meeting in Budapest that the cabinet sees the Roma community as an opportunity, a hidden potential for the country’s economy, while the majority of parties consider the Roma as being a problem.

The question of how Roma people live in Hungary is therefore not only a human rights issue for us, but an economic and social challenge too, he said.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the Roma community is not currently strong enough to get access to jobs on the free market, and so they require some supportive measures which are embodied by the Start work programme. Among the goals, he mentioned that all Roma people should finish elementary school, and more and more should acquire a secondary school diploma, as well as entering the vocational training system, adding that it is our common desire, goal and programme that the Hungarian Roma people find their place in the future of Hungary. In addition, the support of Roma culture is also important, because cohabitation may improve if cultural characteristics and identities are strengthened.

Referring to the European Roma Strategy, the Prime Minister indicated that the goal of improving the situation of half million people in a tangible way must still be achieved within the current term, and he drew attention to the framework agreements concluded between the Government and the National Roma Self-Government, which include the fact that that a hundred thousand Roma people will be provided with workplaces until 2015.

In relation to the important measures for Roma integration, Minister of Human Resources Zoltán Balog said that in 2010, for the first time in the history of Hungarian governance, a separate state secretariat responsible for social inclusion and Roma issues had begun operations. A year later, during the Hungarian Presidency of the EU, the Government prepared the EU Framework National Roma Integration Strategies. Also, in 2012 the Government and the National Roma Self-Government concluded a framework agreement dedicated to promoting social inclusion.

The Minister of Human Resources pointed out that the European Roma Strategy set down four important areas including employment, education, healthcare and accommodation. Two further areas were included in the Hungarian strategy, public safety and culture, said the Minister, adding that there can be no inclusion and integration without culture.

In addition to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Chairman of the National Roma Self-Government Flórián Farkas, Minister of Human Resources Zoltán Balog, Minister of National Economy Mihály Varga, Minister of State heading the Prime Minister’s Office János Lázár and Minister of State for Social Inclusion Zoltán Kovács were also present at the meeting.

(Prime Minister's Office)