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From  July 24 to 27, 2012 in hotel "Sevastokrator" , Arbanasi  by initiative of the Centre "Amalipe" Veliko Tarnovo was  held a joint camp of local government representatives, community moderators from centers for community development and local leaders from the ten municipalities in Bulgaria. Aim of the meeting was  the preparation of municipal plans for

implementing the National Strategy for Integration of Roma / NSIR /. Within four days, the participants discussed specific steps in the preparation of municipal plans and basic elements of these documents. Participants - community moderators of 10 centers for community development created by the Center "Amalipe", deputy mayors, councilors and representatives of NGOs from Strazhitsa, Novi Pazar, Kameno, Radnevo,  Peshtera, Etropole, Dolna Banya, Byala Slatina, Kneja and Pavlikeni,  jointly identified problems and needs of the local community and worked on the preparation of municipal plans for Roma integration tailored to the specific characteristics of each municipality. During the camp, they also discussed the roles of different actors in the preparation of municipal plans. At the joint meeting representatives of various institutions expressed  opinions and shared issues and concerns on the implementation of plans and crossing  points for intervention. There was mentioned that  an effective implementation of the strategy would also need regularly update, control, visibility and accountability. All participants in the meeting supported the idea that municipal plans for integration must be the result of thorough and accurate analysis, applied approach to community development and mutual respect of interests of all stakeholders in the process. Unanimously was the view that in order  to have effective and working plans , all set operations must be bound to a specific period, to have  real parameters and scope, responsible institution, funding, publicity and accountability.

Discussion remained open regarding the control over the implementation of municipal plans, because currently there is no legal framework on this element of the functioning of NSIR. But the fact that the strategy is passed by National Assembly and it is a subject of annually report to it, is building the foundations of control, although only at a national level. During the joint  camp, the participants attended  in various sessions. Georgi  Krastev  (Vice-Chairman of the National Council for Cooperation on Ethnic and Integration Issues), Nikola Petkov  (Secretary of NSSEIV), representatives of regional administrations ( Regoinal Educational Inspectorates, Regional Health Inspections  and Regional Directorates Social Assistance. At the end  of the joint camp participants have identified the specific deadlines for the preparation of municipal strategies. The work on the preparation of the municipal strategies for integration is going to start next week and it is planned within the end of October aii the ten municipalities to have their adopted strategies.