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Unprecedentedly high political and diplomatic involvement and open doors for inclusion of verified models for Roma integration in the EEA Financial Mechanism / Norwegian FM characterized the forum "Successful practices and models for Roma Integration", which was held on 27 February in Sofia. Deputy Prime MInisters Krumova and Semerdzhiev, representatives of the European Commission, donor countries, the World Bank, ambassadors of ambassadorial group for Roma integration and representatives of 8 embassies, MAs of key programs related to Roma integration and numerous non-governmental organizations participated in the forum. It was organized by the Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance "Amalipe" and "Open Society" in partnership with the Deputy Prime Minister for EU funds Malina Krumova.

"Good practices in the field of Roma inclusion should be used in the future because integration is one of the steps to transform the European Union into a successful union with common goals," said Deputy Prime Minister Krumova in her opening speech. "The importance of the theme for our country is evident from signed on 9 December 2016 Memoranda of Understanding for the implementation of the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area and the implementation of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism for 2014-2021 period, "added Ms. Krumova. As provided therein, Bulgaria will receive financial support for projects in the social and territorial development and cohesion in the amount of 210.1 mln euros, provided free of charge by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Memoranda on both the mechanism set supporting policies for Roma integration as a key priority in three programs", said Deputy Prime Minister. She congratulated the organizers and stressed on concrete proposals to both mechanisms.

"Roma integration is a test for the success of nations," said Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of NCCEII Ilko Semerdzhiev. In his address to the participants Semerdzhiev said that there are many successful experiences supporting the adopted by the National Assembly National Strategy for Roma integration, such as scholarship student program for medical students, health mediators or initiative to establish a Roma theater, and the fact that 194 municipalities have approved municipal integration programs. The task is successful practices to become policies and despite the limited mandate of the acting government, we will work for it.

HE Mr. Tom van Oorshot - Ambassador of the Netherlands and co-chair of ambassadorial group for Roma inclusion also have welcoming words to the forum participants. He noted that social inclusion is impossible without special attention to the sectors of education and health, communication is needed at all levels, including local communities. The ambassadors' group, which includes 12 ambassadors accredited in Bulgaria: from Member States of the EU, Norway, Switzerland and the USA, will work for this to happen. The group has two goals - to support awareness of the Bulgarian institutions on the importance of policies for Roma integration and to maintain communication with the community. The statement of Hon. Tom van Oorshot is available here.

With greetings on behalf of the donor countries participated Mr. Roland Python - Head of the Swiss Office for Cooperation in Bulgaria and Mrs. Lora Lalova expert on the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism in the Embassy of Norway in Bucharest. On behalf of the European Commission spoke Ms. Sandrine De Buggenoms  - Head of the Department for Bulgaria, Romania and Malta in DG "Employment" of the European Commission.

In his opening speech Deyan Kolev, chairman of the "Amalipe" Center presented the context of the forum and its tasks. "Bulgaria has a good National Strategy for Integration and numerous successful practices and even models, especially in education and health care. - Kolev stressed and added: Bulgaria does not have an appropriate administrative and political consultative framework: NCCEII was not functioning for years and needs a deep change. No financial resources are allocated from the state budget. There is a lack of sufficient political commitment and public support for the implementation of integration policies. Under these conditions the European funds, which by their design are a means to implement policies start having functions on design of policies".

Kolev also pointed out that on December 9, 2016 Bulgaria signed a memorandum of understanding for the implementation of the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area and the implementation of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism for the period 2014-2021. In the next six months ministries and stakeholders from Bulgaria and donor countries should prepare preliminary concepts for each of the approved programs. Memoranda and the two mechanisms put one of the highlights on supporting policies for Roma integration. Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area contains the program area "Roma inclusion and empowerment" to the program "Local development, reduce poverty and improve the integration of vulnerable groups, and the requirement that 10% of funds under the program "Cultural Entrepreneurship, heritage and cooperation"to be used to improve the situation of Roma. The Norwegian Financial Mechanism requires 10% of the funds under the programs "Justice" and "Home Affairs" to be used to improve the situation of Roma. "Let this forum offer themes and approaches to be included in these areas" called the chairman of Amalipe. 

Successful Practices

During the last two sessions were presented successful practices that tend to become comprehensive integration models in one or more subject areas. The requirement was to have proven their success by independent assessment, as well as a lack of financing from European funds or the state budget for expanding and implementing nationwide. The practices and models were presented not by donors but by end users or participants in their implementation.

Prospects in the new programming period:

Managing authorities of the Operational Programmes "Human Resources Development", "Science and education for smart growth 'and' Regions in Growth" presented their planned integration operations. Daniela Dimitrova from the Embassy of the Swiss Confederation presented the approach and implementation activities within the HEA Program- Health and Education for All - the Bulgarian-Swiss program of cooperation on Roma integration. Deputy Mayor of Tundzha and representative of NAMB Stancho Stanchev in turn presented some of the needs of municipalities. He emphasized the need for "hard measures" (public works, social housing, etc.) in rural communities. Stanchev justify the need for the creation of a fund through which municipalities to facilitate access to preschool education: covering the fees for kindergartens( the whole amount or partially), etc.

The final session was moderated by Deputy Prime Minister Krumova. She requires form the operators of the four programs in the EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian FM in which Roma integration is a priority to attract working Roma organizations in the preparation of programs.

Deyan Kolev presented a summary of identified needs and best practices. We have reached a consensus with the CCU and the Embassy of Norway to support the scholarship program for Roma medical students, which will include other specialties as well. We hope an agreement to be reached also on other successful models, appealed Kolev.