"Only when the EU and its member states finally recognize the Roma genocide as a crime against humanity will the majority rethink its attitude. We also need binding measures for the fight against Anti-Romanyism in the member states and the prosecution of acts of violence and hate campaigns against Roma and Sinti" GUE/NGL MEP Cornelia Ernst said in today's debate on EU recognition of the Roma genocide during World War II.

"The full truth about the Roma Holocaust must be unearthed, including the truth about the complicity of the majority of people in European countries. Until this happens, cooperation between the majority and the Roma minority is impossible."

Estimates of Roma killed in Europe during the Second World War range from 220,000 to 500,000 people.

"It is high time that politics, education and research in all member states begin investigating the history of the Roma, to make space for their experiences into school curricula, and finally to begin to fight the contempt and prejudice faced by Roma in all sectors of the society. Together we must prevent history from repeating itself" Ernst concluded.

GUE/NGL PRESS CONTACTS:

David Lundy + 32 485 50 58 12
Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20
Gianfranco Battistini + 32 475 64 66 28
Inga Keilmann (DE) +32 493 60 10 23
www.guengl.eu
European United Left/Nordic Green Left
European Parliamentary Group