Page 30 - bon-dia-aruba-20201008

A30 World neWs
Diahuebs 8 OctOber 2020

EU presents plan to improve plight of its Roma minority

(AP) — Europe's treat- nation, improving jobs access by the pandemic since many
ment of its Roma people for Roma, reducing poverty often live without basic hy-
has been "inexcusable" and improving the quality of giene and sanitary facilities
over the past decade, a education for Roma children. available to almost all EU cit-
top European Union offi- Equality Commissioner izens. It said they also often
cial said Wednesday as she Helena Dalli said the plan live in overcrowded homes
presented a 10-year plan sought "to tackle the inex- and segregated camps.
to improve life for the cusable discrimination facing The EU Agency for Funda-
large ethnic minority. far too many today, and also mental Rights reported last
to change our mindsets, to year that 80% of the Roma
Around 6 million Roma live change the stereotypes which population in Europe is at
in the 27-nation bloc, where we have in our minds when risk of living in poverty, and
the European Commission we look at Roma people." that hate-motivated crime
said 41% experienced dis- This year, the coronavirus and harassment were pre-
crimination over the past pandemic has even worsened venting their inclusion in so-
five years and where 85% of the situation for Romas. A ciety.
Roma children are at risk of commission report said that "The Roma are Europe's
poverty compared to 20% of "Roma children living in largest ethnic minority, and
children overall in the EU. marginalized communities in many member states, they
"Simply put, over the last are among the hardest hit constitute a significant part
10 years, we have not done rova said as she presented Under the plan, EU nations by the pandemic. Distance of the population. But many
enough to support the Roma a 10-year plan to improve will have to submit national learning has been impossible continue to face discrimina-
population in the EU. This the plight of Roma, who are strategies by September 2021 for too many Roma children tion and racism," Jourova
is inexcusable," European among the poorest and least and the European Commis- living in households without said. "The lack of inclusion
Union Vice President Vera educated in Central Europe sion will monitor progress to- IT facilities or electricity." of Roma communities in our
Jourova said. and have been discriminated ward the 2030 targets, which It also said that the commu- societies is a scar on Europe-
"We cannot accept it," Jou- against for centuries. center on reducing discrimi- nity was disproportionally hit ans' conscious."

Thousands evacuated after fire at Russian military arsenal

(AP) — A fire engulfed a military arsenal in western Russia on Wednes-
day, triggering huge explosions that injured at least six and prompted
the evacuation of thousands of residents from nearby villages, officials
said.

Authorities said the fire at the arsenal in the Ryazan region that holds muni-
tions had been sparked by burning grass. Television footage showed smoke
rising high across the skies, and powerful blasts shook the area about 250 kilo-
meters (155 miles) southeast of Moscow.
Regional officials have ordered the evacuation of more than 2,300 people from
10 nearby villages. Six people have been hospitalized with injuries.
The Defense Ministry said that 189 troops backed by four heavy firefighting
planes, three helicopters and drones were deployed to help contain the blaze.
A deputy defense minister arrived in the area to coordinate emergency efforts.

Spain unveils economic recovery plan amid pandemic

(AP) — Spain's prime our generation." Spain this such as electric vehicles. Italy ing the public health service, the opportunity to transform
minister unveiled a major week became the first EU is sketching a roadmap along improving public infrastruc- our country."
plan Wednesday to boost country to surpass 835,000 similar lines to Spain, dub- ture, transitioning to green Another massive spending
his country out of reces- coronavirus infections, with bing it #nextgenerationitalia. energy and enhancing energy plan, using national tax rev-
sion by spending 140 bil- 32,562 people in Spain con- Greece, after an anticipated efficiency, developing profes- enue and loans taken by the
lion euros ($162 billion) firmed to have died from economic contraction of sional training schemes and government on international
of European Union aid COVID-19. The capital, Ma- 8.2% this year, expects to accelerating the digital mod- money markets, is expected
to reshape the economy, drid, is experiencing Europe's rebound with 7.5% growth ernization of Spanish indus- to be announced next week
with the aim of creating worst second wave of infec- next year. The Greek econo- try. "The world has changed when the 2021 state bud-
800,000 jobs over the next tions. my is set to benefit from 32 and we need to change, too, get proposal is published.
three years. Spain is the latest EU coun- billion euros in EU funds to safeguard our future," Sán- In preparation for that, the
try to say how it intends to through 2026 — 19.3 billion chez said. government this week raised
The program is a response to use the bloc's 750-billion- in grants and 12.7 billion in Spain's deputy prime minis- its limit on public spending
the sharp downturn caused euro coronavirus recovery loans with favorable interest ter for ecological transition, by almost 54%.The plan an-
by the coronavirus pandemic fund, approved last July and rates and terms. Teresa Ribera, highlighted nounced Wednesday will be
and its worldwide disrup- designed to help the world's The Spanish government ex- the plan's focus on environ- sent to Brussels for approval
tion of economies. The plan biggest trading bloc exit its pects the country's economy mentally friendly growth. by the European Commis-
focuses primarily on getting deepest-ever recession. to contract 11.2% this year. "We will support the growth sion. The national budget
Spain to transition to green France last month unveiled In some sectors, such as of industry by helping it digi- will need to get the Spanish
energy and a digital economy, a 100 billion-euro ($116 bil- tourism, the drop could be talize and meet environmen- parliament's support.
which will take up about 70% lion) plan called "France Re- as much as 25%. Officials ex- tal challenges, by recovering The economic damage will
of the financing. boot," that includes 40 billion pect an unemployment rate the use of raw materials, a take time to heal, especially
"We have to turn this heavy euros ($46 billion) from the of around 17% this year and circular economy, and having in terms of public debt. The
blow into an opportunity," EU recovery plan. next. The Socialist-led gov- qualified professionals," Ri- Spanish government has al-
Prime Minister Pedro Sán- Germany has a 130 billion ernment's strategy aims to bera said. "The new econom- ready spent billions protect-
chez said, referring to the euro stimulus package for achieve growth of 7.2% next ic model within the planet's ing businesses and jobs. It
pandemic's far-reaching ef- 2020 and 2021, to be spent on year. sustainable limits will help foresees a budget deficit of
fects on society and the econ- infrastructure, digitalization It is built on 10 main planks. and guide our reconversion 11.3% of GDP this year and
omy. "This is the challenge of and green energy projects They include strengthen- toward green jobs. We have 7.7% in 2021.