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To: Mr. Marin Raikov, Prime Minister of Republic of Bulgaria

To: Mrs. Deana Kostadinova, Chaiperson of NCCEII

Propositions regarding an open letter on April, 8^th to the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister – Chairperson of NCCEII from a group of civic organizations

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

Dear Mrs Kostadinova,

Dear NCCEII Members,

To guarantee the results and effects of the approved National strategy of  Republic of Bulgaria for Roma integration (2012 – 2020) (NRIS), we, group of civic organizations, engaged in the process of Roma integration, suggest the following propositions:

1. The Commission for Roma Integration as an ineffective structure within the NCCEII to be closed.

2. Due to a great public significance of the integration of the Roma minority, and to guarantee transparent and democratic process in the implementation of the NRIS on all levels, we suggest a new structure to be established for the cooperation between the civic organizations and the state structures responsible for the execution of the NRIS – a Council for NRIS.

- The purpose of the Council for NRIS is to support the State in the implementation of the NRIS and to create conditions for making decisions on the issues of Roma integration after consultations and in cooperation with representatives of the Roma organizations;

- The scope of the issues, subject to consultations, is to be determined with a decision of the Council of Ministers (CoM) after a proposal from the Council for NRIS.

- Cooperation and consultations will must becarried out inpreparation and approval of:

i. Regulations,

ii. Programmes,

iii. Projects,

iiii. Opinions, and other related to the policy for Roma integration.

- Members of this new structure, except for the government representatives, will be nationally represented Roma organizations (networks, coalitions, consortiums).

- In the Rules of this body clearly should be stated standards and criteria for the consultation process and the cooperation between the government officials and the civic organizations in order to ensure parity and audibility of the proposals of the civic organizations.

- Main functions of this body:

i. Discusses and gives opinion on the annual plans and reports of the structures of the executive power, responsible for the implementation of the NRIS.

ii. Organizes and carries out a debate on strategic issues concerning policies, conditions and other matters related to the Roma ethnic minority in Bulgaria;

iii. Gives opinions on the appointment of managers/ directors of specialized bodies of the executive power, responsible for the implementation and monitoring of the NRIS (Chairpersons of State agency and State commission for control on the NRIS);

iiii. Participates with elected representatives in commissions that are executing competition for the selection of expert staff of specialized bodies of the executive power responsible for the implementation and monitoring of the NRIS.

2. We propose a body of the executive power to the CoM to be established – Chairperson of a State agency for the implementation of the NRIS with a suitable, not numerous, but expert team on central and regional level.

- The purpose of this body is to execute the entire governance and implementation of the NRIS, inter-sectoral interventions and Priority axis “Rule of law and non-discrimination” of the NRIS. With this proposition of ours, we do not intend to overturn the engagement of the engagement of the other institutions of the executive power (namely Ministry of education, youth and science, Ministry of health, Ministry of labour and social policy, Ministry of regional development and welfare and the Ministry of culture) to work on the first five priorities of the NRIS.

- Main functions of this body:

i. Carry out communication with the responsible departments/ experts in the respected ministries, Governors’ offices and municipalities;

ii. Implements inter-sectoral interventions;

iii. Carry out activities on prevention and promotion of non-discrimination and anti-racism;

iv. Referrals the respected bodies (Commission for protection against discrimination, Chief Prosecutor, Council of electronic media and others) in cases of hate speech and promotion of ethnic intolerance among citizens;

v. Carry out activities on promotion of the rule of law;

vi. Acts as an intermediate body in area of intervention “Integration of marginalized communities such as Roma” under HRD OP;

3. We propose a State commission for control of the implementation of the NRIS to be established.

- The purpose of this body is to execute the entire monitoring and evaluation of the results and effects of the NRIS.

- Structure: according to the Law on administration, but definitely composed of small central expert team and regional representatives;

- Main functions:

i. Contact point for the NRIS;

ii. Develops and applies a system of indicators after a discussion with the Council for the NRIS;

iii. Develops and applies system for current monitoring of the implementation of the NRIS;

iv. Prepares analytical annual reports including the assessment of the achievements, opinions and recommendations;

v. Issues administrative decisions and recommendations to ministries, Chairperson of state agency and local authorities related to the achieved results and effects of the NRIS;

4. We propose the above changes to be executed with a Decision of the CoM and can be in line with the Law on administration or other suitable enactment.

5. We propose in the teams of the future State agency and State commission to work mostly experts – Roma, hired after transparent and clear procedures. We are convinced that in this way the declared in the NRIS intention for active participation of Roma in each level of establishment, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the policies on all levels[1].

We hope that with the above propositions not only the process of implementation of the NRIS to be approved, but to guarantee achievements of results leading to effects and real social change. Also, we hope that with the establishment of responsible bodies the consultation process on ethnic issues in general, not only on Roma issues, to be facilitated and more clear.

Respectfully,

Stela Kostova, The "Roma Academy for Culture and Education", Sliven; phone: 0878464401; E-mail: stela_rmo@slivenbg.net

Lili Makaveeva, Integro Association, Razgrad; phone: 084 661026, Email: l.makaveeva @ gmail.com

Dr. Stefan Panayotov, the "Health of Roma", Sliven; phone: 0887228985; E-mail: drstefpan@gmail.com

Deyan Kolev CIEDT "Amalipe", Veliko Tarnovo; phone:0888681134; E-mail: deyan_kolev@yahoo.com

Myuzeyam Salim Ali the "Hayachi" NGO, Novi Pazar; phone: 0896706322; E-mail: hayaci@abv.bg

Sergi Karakashev, Roma Foundation "Iskra", Shumen; phone: 0898624590; E-mail: s_karakashev@abv.bg

Spaska Mikhailova, Association "New Road" Hayredin municipality; phone: 0896782469, Email: mihajlova_69@abv.bg

Gancho Iliev, "World without Borders", Stara Zagora; phone:0884762109; E-mail: veselrom@abv.bg

Radostin Manov, The "Diverse and Equal", Sofia; phone: 0899 553478; E-mail: diverse_equal@abv.bg

Aleksandar Kracholov, Lozenetz Foundation, Stara Zagora, tel.0887101113; e-mail: lozenetz_sa6o@abv.bg

Anton Karagiozov, Roma Foundation, Plovdiv, tel. 032 622322, 653678; e-mail: frdroma@abv.bg

Tsvetanka Marinova Roma women NGO „Carmen", Razgrad; phone: 0898609383; e-mail: simona26@mail.bg  

Emil Stefanov, Roma – Zavet 2003 Association, tel. 0885 200092     E-mail:roma_zavet@mail.bg

Yuksel Yasharov, Slatze za vseki Association, Peshtera, tel. 0894677708        E-mail:yuksi_i@abv.bg

Metin Shefket, Chitalishte Roma Vazovo, Isperih, tel. 0882 555 641      E-mail:metin_s@abv.bg

Jelqzko Manolov, Misiya – novo pokolenie Romani Association, tel. 0887228440,     Е-mail: dr_man@mail.bg   

Nikolai Nikolov, Centar za strategii po problemite na malcinstvata, Varna, tel. 0896687760      E-mail:nicros@abv.bg

Milena Ivanova, NC Yavin 2004, Varna, tel. 0895456325      E-mail:mmarinova75@abv.bg

Seniha Ahmed, Sevgi Association, Zavet, tel. 089933 25 44   емайл: seniha_zdr@mail.bg

Demir Yatev, Romska Solidarnost Association, Petrich, tel. 0885615468    имейл: demir_yanev@abv.bg

Veselin Alekov, Amare phala, Association, Kubrat, tel. 0879591001;  e-mail: amare_phala@abv.bg

Vasil Chaprazov, Drom Dromendar agency, tel. 0878 513438; e-mail: ddrom@abv.bg

Bistra Andreeva, Romska Iniciativa, Association, Sofia, tel. 02 980 39 73; e-mail: romin@abv.bg

Sasho Kovachev, Largo Association, Kuystendil, tel. 0895 723803 e-mail: largo_2007@abv.bg