Candidates for members of the European Parliament (MEP) took part in a debate on the representation of minorities in the EP and on integration policies.

Roma in Bulgaria are inseparable part of society and their problems should be seen as problems of the entire union, MEP candidate Petar Filipov from Platform European Socialists said.

Introducing minority representation quotas in European institutions is one of the manners to deal with the problem, Filipov said.

Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria (CEDB) candidate Tatyana Kmetova said that the introduction of such quotas will fail solving the problem. Decentralisation and more opportunities for local governance are needed instead.

Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB) member and MEP candidate Daniel Mitov said that no ethnic or group belonging should be turned into a reason for provision of extra rights.

National Movement Simeon II (NMSII) disapproves both positive and negative discrimination when it comes to the minority question, NMSII MEP candidate Nikolai Kirilov said.