MINELRES: PER: Enhancing role of Romani leaders in EU acceding and candidate countries

[MINELRES moderator]

Original sender: Patrice Chadwick <patrice.chadwick@per-usa.org>

	
DN: IP/03/1721     Date: 12/12/2003

Brussels, 12 December 2003 

Enhancing the role of elected and appointed Romani leaders

In an effort to further develop relations between Romani communities,
their governments, and the European Union, the European Commission and
the NGO 'Project on Ethnic Relations' (PER), organised a 2-day program
on the role of Romani leaders in acceding and candidate countries. The
roundtable discussion brought together Romani elected and appointed
representatives from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland,
Romania and Slovakia as well as officials of the European Commission and
Members of the European Parliament. The roundtable was followed by a
session in the European Parliament and by one-on-one consultations
between Romani leaders and officials from the European Commission. 

The event provided a forum for Romani MPs and public officers directly
engaged in the policy formation and implementation process to give their
assessment of the current situation of Roma in their respective
countries. Participants presented their views on the most serious
problems faced by the Roma communities and on how they could be tackled.
They also had the opportunity to discuss the EU's approach with regard
to Roma issues, including what kind of activities could be expected at
EU level and which responsibilities remained within the national,
regional and local governments. Some of the main points addressed at the
meeting included the role of elected and appointed Romani
representatives in national decision-making, and whether training
programs should be designed exclusively for the Roma or together with
other vulnerable groups. 

It was also made clear that the EU would continue to support the Roma
through specific policies, support programs and framework programs.
Appreciation was expressed with regard to the opportunity of having a
direct dialogue between the elected and appointed Romani representatives
and officials from the Commission as well as members of the European
Parliament. 

Opening remarks were delivered by Matthias Ruete, European Commission,
and Livia Plaks, Executive Director, PER. The session at the European
Parliament was chaired by Jan Marinus Wiersma, Member of the European
Parliament and Chairman of the European Parliament's Conference of
Delegation Chairmen. Among the Roma representatives were a number of
Members of national Parliaments (Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary) as well
as Roma representatives in various functions, appointed by their
national or regional governments. 
The Brussels meeting is the second of its kind organised by the European
Commission and PER. The first, held in July 1999, focused on state
policies toward the Roma in candidate countries to the EU and Roma
participation in the policymaking process for further information please
consult the PER website at: 
http://www.per-usa.org 

information regarding EU support for Roma can be found at:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/docs/pdf/brochure_roma_may2002.pdf 
 

EU Accession and Post-Accession - 
What Role for Elected and Appointed Roma Representatives?
Brussels, 9 and 10 December 2003

List of Participants 

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