European Commission facing legal action over their failure to stop human rights violations in accession countries Public Interest Lawyers (PIL) (see footnote) have sent a formal complaint to the European Commission requesting urgent action to terminate state sponsored segregated educational denial of Roma children in the accession countries of the Czech republic, Hungary and Slovakia. The letter refers to the systematic segregation of normal school age Roma children, in rural regions, and denial of adequate education. This has been intensified since 1989 by generous state financial incentives to local authorities resulting in the number of children affected rising by over 400% by 2003. In just a decade, central governments have transferred some Euro 3 billion to sustain this system. A direct contravention of the European Human Rights Convention, this illegal activity demonstrates the failure of these government to meet accession political criteria on human rights, the protection of minorities and non-discrimination as well as various acquis accession criteria. These governments should ensure government administrations and structures be adjusted, before accession, to support transposed European legislation. In these countries government administrations and structures sustain an illegal system managed directly by staff from central and local governments within government installations. PIL are acting for the European Committee on Romani Emancipation (ECRE), a voluntary and non-profit organisation formed by Roma and non-Roma. ECRE works to eliminate social exclusion and poverty amongst the Roma, and advocates on their behalf for equal opportunities within all relevant state systems. According to ECRE, in spite of their having made several requests for action to the Commission, since 1999, including the submission of a detailed report (early 2003) on the system's scale, nature, state funding and management, the European Commission has never acted nor replied to any substantive issue raised. Hector McNeill, the ECRE Secretary General, said "We regret that the Commission's failure to communicate and act on such an important issue has given us no other alternative other than to turn to legal remedies. I should mention that it is a matter of particular concern and disappointment, to the communities affected, that the European institution, charged with the responsibility of ensuring accession countries observe European law, is openly tolerating such widespread state-sponsored human rights abuse." The full text of the letter to the Commission can be see here Footnote: PIL have a track record of successful resolutions of major international human rights cases. Recently, PIL have won a series of high profile cases including the illegality of the Iraq war case against the British Government, the high profile Ghurka troops case relating to failure to pay adequate pensions brought against the British Ministry of Defense and the recent Ghost Ships case.