12 Oct 2010 / 03:09
A high level two-day conference has gotten underway today in Bucharest to discuss EU funds for the integration of Roma people and the use of those funds, as well as ways for member states to do more for this vulnerable minority group.
Marian Chiriac
The conference comes in the wake of increasing scrutiny over the treatment of Roma after news of France's deportation of thousands of Roma camped illegally in the country hit the headlines, and discussions were launched on the need for greater inclusion of Roma in Romania and Bulgaria.
EU Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Commissioner Laszlo Andor delivered a speech as the conference opened today, stressing that while many of the areas related to improving the situation of Roma in Romanian are the responsibility of local officials, the EU remains ready to provide support.
"It's clear that many of the areas that require action to improve the lives of Roma – like employment, education, housing and health - fall under the responsibility of the Member States. But the EU can, does and will continue to provide vital support," Andor said.
The event aims to promote the use of EU funds to improve the socio-economic situation of the 10 to 12 million Roma living in Europe and improve the effectiveness of the projects that are launched with the help of the funds.
Romanian officials and Roma NGOs are expected to attend the conference, as well as EU Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos.
“We are expecting European countries to implement more programmes to improve the situation of the Roma people,” a representative of the Civic Alliance of Roma People told Balkan Insight before the start of the conference.
European Union member states have been given access to large amounts of EU funds to improve Roma inclusion but, as the Commission said previously: "they need to spend them faster".
Romania, for example, used only about one percent of the EUR 2.25 billion made available by the European Social Fund for the period 2007 to 2013 to improve the situation of vulnerable groups.
The Roma community in Romania numbers about 535,000 people, according to the national census. NGOs, however, say the figure is probably between 1.5 - 2 million, as many do not declare themselves as Roma amid fears of being discriminated.
The minority is extremely marginalised, they say, as most live in poor conditions, suffer widespread discrimination and racism and have difficulties finding work.
The two-day conference in Bucharest will be followed by two regional events, the first on October 14 in the Romanian city of Cluj, and the second on October 20 in the city of Iasi.
The conference comes in the wake of increasing scrutiny over the treatment of Roma after news of France's deportation of thousands of Roma camped illegally in the country hit the headlines, and discussions were launched on the need for greater inclusion of Roma in Romania and Bulgaria.
EU Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Commissioner Laszlo Andor delivered a speech as the conference opened today, stressing that while many of the areas related to improving the situation of Roma in Romanian are the responsibility of local officials, the EU remains ready to provide support.
"It's clear that many of the areas that require action to improve the lives of Roma – like employment, education, housing and health - fall under the responsibility of the Member States. But the EU can, does and will continue to provide vital support," Andor said.
The event aims to promote the use of EU funds to improve the socio-economic situation of the 10 to 12 million Roma living in Europe and improve the effectiveness of the projects that are launched with the help of the funds.
Romanian officials and Roma NGOs are expected to attend the conference, as well as EU Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos.
“We are expecting European countries to implement more programmes to improve the situation of the Roma people,” a representative of the Civic Alliance of Roma People told Balkan Insight before the start of the conference.
European Union member states have been given access to large amounts of EU funds to improve Roma inclusion but, as the Commission said previously: "they need to spend them faster".
Romania, for example, used only about one percent of the EUR 2.25 billion made available by the European Social Fund for the period 2007 to 2013 to improve the situation of vulnerable groups.
The Roma community in Romania numbers about 535,000 people, according to the national census. NGOs, however, say the figure is probably between 1.5 - 2 million, as many do not declare themselves as Roma amid fears of being discriminated.
The minority is extremely marginalised, they say, as most live in poor conditions, suffer widespread discrimination and racism and have difficulties finding work.
The two-day conference in Bucharest will be followed by two regional events, the first on October 14 in the Romanian city of Cluj, and the second on October 20 in the city of Iasi.
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