Vice-President Viviane Reding presented the European Commission's work programme for 2012 in the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. In her presentation Commissioner Reding highlighted the necessity of effectively implementing the European Roma Strategy and expressed her appreciation for the work done by Rapporteur Lívia Járóka. In her speech MEP Járóka urged the stronger involvement of Roma and marginalized communities into decisions affecting their lives.
Viviane Reding, European Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship presented the Commission's 2012 work programme in the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. Speaking about the tasks and responsibilities of the EC she underlined the assessment of the national Roma integration strategies submitted within the European Framework and indicated that the six countries that failed the deadline were also expected to present their action plans within weeks. Reding praised the efforts of Lívia Járóka who was Rapporteur of the EP report on a European level Roma strategy which served as a basis also for the Commission's document.
EPP Group MEP Lívia Járóka pointed out that the best way to combat the rise of extremism – that several deputies have expressed their concerns about during the debate – was to create jobs for the most excluded communities, to grant their fundamental rights and to improve their living conditions. She rejected the political misuse of the situation of Roma by any political group and pointed out that the voice of Roma themselves was almost never heard in such debates, neither in the design and implementation of integration projects, where a much stronger Roma involvement was necessary. Járóka reminded that it was the Fidesz government that penalised and dissolved radical paramilitary groups, which could serve as an example for other EU Member States as well.