Minister Jari Vilén in Romania: Development of the living conditions of the Roma minority among the EU accession criteria
Minister responsible for the Finnish participation in the EU enlargement negotiations, Jari Vilén, met with the Romanian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase in Bucharest. The visit is part of Mr Vilén’s circular tour to the EU applicant countries. The ministers discussed the future of the EU, the current status of the Romanian accession negotiations, and the situation of the Roma minority in Romania.
Romanian Minister for European Integration, Ms Hildegard Puwak, briefed Mr Vilén about the status of the Romanian accession negotiations and the related problems. Mr Vilén expressed his satisfaction with the decision made in Sevilla to draft a detailed time schedule for the Romanian and Bulgarian accession negotiations for the Copenhagen Summit in December. The main priority of the Danish EU Presidency is to ensure the acceptance of 10 new Member States to the EU. Even though Bulgaria and Romania are not among these countries, their accession negotiations are also progressing well. According to Mr Vilén, the EU will announce a firm political commitment in Copenhagen to continue with the enlargement.
The problems of the Roma minority in Romania were also touched upon in the discussions between Minister Vilén and the Prime and Integration Ministers of Romania. Within the first half of the year, Finland has received more than 500 Roma asylum seekers from Romania. Based on scrutiny of the applications for asylum, Finland has repatriated 53 of the asylum seekers and intends to continue with the repatriation of those regarded having no need for asylum. The information was referred to the Romanian media as well. Minister Vilén emphasised the fact that the improvement of the living conditions of the Roma minority belongs to the EU accession criteria. Ms Puwak announced the commitment of Romania to the improvement of the social conditions of the Roma population and presented her government’s strategy approved last year for the integration of the Romas to the society.
Furthermore, Mr Vilén discussed the future of the EU and Romania’s challenges in the accession negotiations with Minister for Foreign Affairs Mircea Geoan. Prospects for increased tourism between Romania and Finland were touched upon in the discussions with Minister of Tourism Dan Matei-Agathon. Romania has ambitious plans e.g. for the utilisation of the Dracula myth to boost tourism.
During his visit, Mr Vilén also met with the representatives of Finnish companies in Romania. The Finnish trade with Romania has been modest so far. Some 30 Finnish companies are currently present in Romania.
Mr Vilén opened the exhibition commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Olympics in the Bucharest Sports Museum. Romania won its first ever Olympic gold medal in the Helsinki Olympics.
Additional information: Paula Parviainen, press attaché, tel: 040-571 9370