Water supply problem at the ‘Haravgi’ Roma settlement in Chalcidice
| 13 April 2015 |
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| Question for written answer to the Commission Rule 130 Notis Marias (ECR) |
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Children’s rights to enjoy the highest possible level of health, basic healthcare services, nutritious food and clean potable water, regardless of their race, colour, gender and language, are self-evident and have been secured in Greece since 1992, when the International Convention on the Rights of the Child was ratified by Law 2101.
The same rights are also secured by the European Union’s primary and secondary law.
In Chalcidice, the extent to which these rights are secured for the children of the vulnerable Roma group is questionable. At the ‘Haravgi’ settlement, they are exposed on a daily basis to immediate dangers for their health, since they lack the cheapest public commodity, namely water; this is due to the fact that the region is facing a serious water supply problem.
In view of the above, will the Commission say what measures it may take, in cooperation with Greek authorities, in order to solve the water supply problem at the ‘Haravgi’ Roma settlement in Chalcidice, as well as to deal with the wider water supply problem faced by the region.
Source: European Parliament
| Answer given by Ms Jourová on behalf of the Commission | |
| Roma often live in poor housing conditions without adequate access to basic social services, including adequate access to safe drinking water, which clearly shows their segregation and has a negative impact on their health.(1)
Ensuring the access of Roma to housing and public utilities (such as water, electricity and gas) is one of the main goals of the EU Framework for the National Roma Integration Strategies up to 2020, as well as a key area addressed in the Council Recommendation on effective Roma integration measures. As from January 2016, Member States will have an obligation to communicate to the Commission any measures taken in accordance with this recommendation and the progress achieved in implementing their National Roma Integration Strategies. Access to public utilities is also covered by the Racial Equality Directive (2000/43/EC) which prohibits discrimination on grounds of racial or ethnic origin in a number of specific fields. The Commission constantly monitors compliance of the Member States with this directive and is ready to take action if Member States are found to be in breach of their duties. |
Source: European Parliament
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