Equal Opportunities Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, January 24, 2013

Official Report 416KB pdf

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European Commission Work Programme 2013

Agenda item 2 is consideration of the European Commission work programme for 2013. Paper 3 sets out the background to the committee’s European Union scrutiny work and proposes engagement and scrutiny priorities.

We are invited to note the briefing and to adopt the Commission’s recommendation on fostering implementation of the national Roma integration strategy as a continuing priority for EU scrutiny, to be reported back to the European and External Relations Committee. We are also invited to agree to continue taking the United Kingdom national strategy into account in the context of our inquiry on issues affecting Gypsy Traveller people.

Do committee members have any comments?

I thank the clerk for compiling the paper. I want to stress the importance of the Roma situation. People might be aware that there have been a number of unfortunate incidents across Europe. I have written to the mayor of Belgrade regarding a sizeable relocation of the Roma population there. Linking in with our previous discussions, it is important that we keep a closer eye on wider developments as we hope to improve the situation locally and with our international partners.

Thanks for that. Are members content to agree the recommendations in the paper?

Members indicated agreement.

Our next meeting will take place on Monday 4 February in Aberdeen, and will include oral evidence from Gypsy Travellers, local authorities and local police and health services on where Gypsy Travellers live.

Meeting closed at 10:47.