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Sefcovic Rejects Claims on His Alleged Anti-Roma Statements
Thursday 14 January 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Brussels, January 14 (TASR, correspondent) - Slovakia's EU Commissioner Maros Sefcovic rejects allegations made by two Hungarian members of the European Parliament on his alleged statements directed against the Roma, TASR was told by head of the Office of the Slovak Delegation in the European Parliament's Socialist Group Gabriella Keckesova.
Hungarian MEPs Livia Jaroka and Jozsef Szajer (European Peoples Party) claim that Sefcovic, speaking at a conference devoted to human rights and the EU's migration policies five years ago, allegedly said that the Roma are misusing the Slovak social system. The two Hungarian MEPs also demand that on top of an apology, Sefcovic should also explain what exactly he meant when making the aforementioned statement.
"Mr Sefcovic is ruling out categorically that he would ever have made anti-Roma comments, which is also confirmed by his active engagement in seeking solutions to problems facing the Roma, as has been confirmed by representatives of Roma organisations in Slovakia. Mr Sefcovic is disappointed at this fabricated campaign against him," said Keckesova.
Sefcovic also emphasised that he advocates a Europe-wide discussion on improving the social and economic situation of the Roma minority.
"From the point of view of the inclusion of Roma community, the key is to remove discrimination and human rights violations, which, unfortunately, occur continually in some member countries," reads a statement issued by Sefcovic.
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