30.11.2009National forum Тhe Structural funds and the Roma integration
Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance “AMALIPE”, Open Society Institute – Sofia and Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the patronage of Mrs. Rumyana Jeleva, Foreign Minister of Bulgaria organize on December 4th in Grand Hotel Sofia the National forum “The Structural funds and the Roma integration”. It will bring together representatives of the European Commission, Managing Authorities of Human Resources Development Operational Program, Regional Development Operational Program and the Program for Development of the Rural Areas as well as representatives of NGOs with proved expertise in the fields of these programs. The forum aims at reviewing the extend to which structural funds absorption support the process of Roma integration in Bulgaria and at preparing recommendations for changes in structural funds absorption in Bulgaria in order to bind it closely with Roma integration.
NATIONAL FORUM
THE STRUCTURAL FUNDS AND THE ROMA INTEGRATION
04 DECEMBER 2009 (Friday)
/Preliminary program/
12.00 – 12.30 – Registration
12.30 – 13.00 – Opening of the meeting. Welcoming words by::
o Rumyana Jeleva, Foreign Minister
o Bistra Valchanova, European Commission, DG Employment
o Milen Milanov, National Coordinator of the Decade of Roma Inclusion
o Georgi Stoichev, Executive Director, Open Society Institute
o Deyan Kolev, Chairman, Center Amalipe
13.00 – 14.30 – The Structural fund and Roma integration process: the Program for Development of Rural Areas and Regional Development Operational Program
Presentations
o Representative of the Ministry of Regional Development
o Representative of Ministry of Agriculture
o Maria Metodieva (expert on Regional Development OP)
o Julia Grigorova (expert on Program for Development of Rural Areas)
o Representatives of European Commission
Discussion
14.30 – 15.00 – Coffee-break; press-conference
15.00 – 16.30 - The Structural fund and Roma integration process: Human Resources Development OP; the experience of Hungary and Slovak Republic for targeting actions in disadvantaged regions
Presentations:
o Zornitza Russinova (Director of DG “European funds” of Ministry of Labor and Social Policy)
o Deyan Kolev (observer in the Monitoring Committee of HRD OP)
o Bistra Valchanova, Kiril Kiryakov (DG “Employment, Equal opportunities and anti-discrimination” of European Commission)
o Experts from
Discussion
16.30 – 17.30 – Concluding remarks. Main conclusions of the forum. Statements of the responsible managers of Managing Authorities and Inter-mediate bodies of HRD OP, RD OP and PDRA
o Boyan Zahariev (manager of PLATFORM project)
o Krassimir Popov (Deputy-minister of Labor and Social Policy and Chair of the Monitoring Committee of HRD OP)
o Deputy-minister of Regional Development and Chair of the Monitoring Committee of RD OP
o Deputy-minister n Agriculture and Chair of the Monitoring Committee of PDRA
