Hungarian Commitment to Healthy Romani Children post 2020?

December 8, 2017

While national governments, EU institutions and civil society met late November 2017 in Brussels during 11th European Platform for Roma inclusion to discuss education and employment situation of Roma, it seems that there is a Hungarian commitment to push for a renewed post 2020 EU Roma Framework mainstreaming healthy children. Is it rhetoric or will be followed by action?

Hungary as the country of contradiction

The track record of the country is full with controversy: while the Hungarian government’s recent move against public interest NGOs and the Central European University (CEU) is questionable, in the area of public health the government is doing quite a good job by implementing plain tobacco packaging, taxing unhealthy products, banning trans-fats, or most recently introducing an e-prescription system. The question poses itself: on the area of Roma integration, will the government follow a progressive approach?

Hungarian flagship role on Roma integration again?

Hungarian Deputy Ambassador Tibor Stelbaczky: We need a political commitment 'the right spirit' not only at EU and national but also at local level to tackle #Roma integration #RomaEU #Romahealth #EU4Roma #Hungary pic.twitter.com/nIk48vBZ1C

— Zoltán MassayKosubek (@EU_ZMK) 2017. november 27.

As the future of EU health policy is at limbo, more or less the same concerns are there for the EU Roma Framework post 2020. Will the Commission be brave enough to make a proposal still under the current mandate? And will Hungary have enough political space and courage to push for it?

The recent Hungarian side-event in Brussels prior to the Platform event is definitely a positive sign. This was the opportunity for the recently elected Vice-President of the European Parliament, Livia Járóka for a European political come back. She was the leading figure in 2011, when the EU Roma Framework was adopted by Member States at the highest level during the Hungarian EU presidency. This is a track record and an achievment which has to be recognised.

In her speech, she highlighted poor Roma health first among the causes which prevent successful implementation of Roma and was calling for more Roma health and Sport projects.

EP Vice-President @JarokaLivia Hungarian #Roma MEP "The EU NRIS has shortcomings as #Roma live in poor #health … We need more #health and #sport projects' #ECD #ROMAEU #Romahealth #Hungary pic.twitter.com/OY6TRShHEp

— Zoltán MassayKosubek (@EU_ZMK) 2017. november 27.

Do we have another 10 years to loose for Roma health?

Well, this event could be considered as the first step to the right direction but much more is needed to be done to turn the rhetoric into action. As I missed the civil society and NGO voice from the panel I felt the need to make the NGO voice heard during the debate from the floor.

In my oral statement, I addressed Hungarian Secretary of state Károly Czibere, European Parliament Vice- President, Hungarian Roma MEP Lívia Járóka and Head of the European Commission Roma Unit Szabolcs Schmidt on need for a post 2020 Roma Framework which mainstreams Roma health and Early Childhood Development.

I stressed that there is a growing Roma public health emergency: in many cases the lives of Roma people are expected to be 10 years shorter than the national average. Poor Roma health is an underlying consequence of Roma segregation which requires urgent response from national governments: jobs and growth cannot be achieved with a sick and segregated Roma population. Good Roma health is a precondition for a good education and to secure employment.