BRUSSELS, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso said Tuesday that the social inclusion of the Roma is a matter of urgency for the European Union (EU).

    He said the living conditions of the most of the Roma population are unacceptable in 21st century Europe.

    "It is urgent not just in political terms, but above all in human terms," Barroso told the first ever Roma Summit in Brussels.

    He said the Roma represent the largest ethnic group facing extreme poverty, social exclusion, and discrimination although they have been part of Europe since the Middle Ages.

    He noted that there is persisting discrimination against the Roma in the European Union (EU). Over three quarters of EU citizens think that being Roma is a disadvantage in society, on a par with being disabled, he said.

    He said the situation is being made worse by the lack of perspectives faced by the young Roma generation. "In the 'knowledge society' of the 21st century, the lack of skills faced by this disadvantaged group increasingly means wasted lives," he said.

    He said the Roma must be offered opportunities to mainstream education, mainstream jobs and mainstream housing.

    He asked EU member states to shoulder responsibilities to tackle the problem. Inclusion of Roma is a joint responsibility of the EU and the member states, he said. But instruments for creating changes are mainly in the hands of the member states. "Key policies for the inclusion of Roma are the competence of member states," he argued.

    The Roma Summit was held after the Italian government drew fire from human rights groups for its plan to fingerprint Roma, including children.