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The third meeting of the European Roma Platform took place on June 17 in Brussels. The meeting was organized by the Spanish Presidency of the European Union and the Directorate General “Employment, Equal opportunities and Anti-discrimination” of the European Commission. It brought more than 70 participants: representatives of the Presidency of the EU, European Commission, permanent representations in Brussels of different countries, national governments and Roma organizations. Recent developments regarding Roma inclusion and proposal for a Roadmap of the European Roma Platform were the main topic discussed during the meeting. It fulfilled the intensive work done by the Spanish Presidency of EU during the past 6 months and prepared the ground for further steps during the upcoming Belgium Presidency.

Dolores Ruiz (Deputy Director for Social Programs in Ministry of Health and Social Policy, Spain) and Carlos Garsia de Cortazar (Councilor for Labor and Social Affairs, Spain) presented the main conclusions from the Second European Roma Summit. They insisted that the Summit clearly pointed out that advance in terms of debate is achieved but not in terms of action. Stronger efforts and commitment to Roma inclusion are necessary and the Summit opened this process. Katarina Mathernova, Deputy Director General of DG Regional development presented the Amendments in Art. 7 of the Regulations of European Regional Development Fund that allows the countries to spend money (up to 3 % from their Regional Development Operational programs) for housing for marginalized communities. Answering the question of Deyan Kolev how this will be applied at national level, Mrs. Mathernova explained that this is not obligatory possibility for the national Managing authorities. She insisted that Roma civil society organizations should be very active in advocating before the national institutions; the European Commission will help the process through organizing peers visits and seminars.

Jose Manuel Fresno, expert on Roma issues and founder of the biggest Roma organization – Fundacion Secretariado Hitano – presented the draft for Platform Roadmap. This document intends to structure the work of European Roma Platform identifying key issues addressed by the Platform, working methods, outputs and dissemination plan. According to the document the Platform will meet at least once a six months and its general meetings will be prepared by Thematic Working Groups. EU institutions, international organizations, Member State governments, Committee of Regions and Roma NGOs will take part in the work of EU Roma Platform. It will not have a permanent set of representatives; different experts will be invited according to the themes discussed. The Platform will not only exchange information among the stakeholders but also will prepare recommendations, suggestions and proposals to different EU institutions; it will play pro-active role in influencing the agenda of the thematic Councils and other institutions.

The draft provoked active discussions. More than 30 participants raised suggestions, many of them – representatives of Roma organizations (such as Andrzej Mirga, Ivan Ivanov, Valeriu Nicolae, Biser Alekov, Deyan Kolev). The main suggestions were about stressing the pro-active role of the Platform, extending it not only to the EU institutions but also to the national governments as well as regarding the key issues addressed by the Platform.

At the end of the meeting the priorities of the Belgium Presidency were announced, namely to strengthen the usage of Structural funds for Roma inclusion and to mainstream Roma issue in all upcoming hi-level events (such as conferences on child poverty, on homelessness, etc.). The next meeting of the Platform will be organized in December.

On the meeting Bulgaria was represented by Alexander Evtimov (from Bulgarian permanent representation to the EU) and Deyan Kolev (Center “Amalipe”). In his interventions Deyan Kolev insisted that the Roma platform should have pro-active role regarding the national institutions. He proposed for the Platform to include national developments (achievements and problems) in the agenda of its general meetings. It could follow the example of Human Dimension Meetings of OSCE and to allow national Roma NGOs (more of them should attend the meetings) to raise certain “hot” issues and officials from the state governments to answer. The Platform should prepare also recommendations/ proposals / suggestions to the national governments, not only to EU institutions. “What we do need at national level is stronger communication from Europe on the national institutions!”, explained Kolev. He proposed also to incorporate Structural funds as key issue of the Platform agenda as well as intercultural education as part of the broad theme of education.

Alexander Evtimov asked for stronger monitoring role of the Platform. It should cover not only the work of thematic Council for Employment and Social Affairs but also the work of the other Councils since Roma problem seems to be not only social. Mr. Evtimov explained the fact that Bulgarian government did not send its representative to the meeting of the Platform with strong financial restrictions undertaken.