The convening of this summit reflects a new awareness of the social exclusion and discrimination against Roma in Europe. The European trade union movement has always spoken out forcefully against all discrimination.

ETUC Confederal Secretary Catelene Passchier declared: ’If we want to see the Roma people successfully integrated in European societies, anti-discrimination measures in the workplace have to be adopted and, for instance, access to employment must be facilitated. However, such measures will not be sufficient if they are not matched with solid social policies to combat social exclusion. Some European trade unions are already active in this area as the trade union movement has an obvious role to play in defending fundamental social rights.’