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Do the EU funds contribute for Roma integration in Bulgaria and how this can happen even in the current programming period? These issues were discussed by  representatives of the European Commission, the Bulgarian government, the embassies of U.S., France, Finland and the Netherlands, also by national and international NGOs during the National Forum "Structural Funds and Roma integration”. The event was organized by Center Amalipe and the Open Society Institute - Sofia under the patronage of the Minister for EU funds in Bulgaria Tomislav Donchev. The forum was held on 23^rd of November in Sofia.

Roma integration is a challenge we all have to work on: institutions and civil society, the Roma and non-Roma, said in her opening speech Tanya Hristova, Head of the Minister Donchev’s office. Complementarity of 'soft' and 'hard' measures is required in education, employment, health and housing conditions: with this aim Minister Donchev formed an expert group composed of representatives of the Managing Authorities of the Regional Development OP and Human resources development OP as well as organizations with capacity in the field. The group will propose a combined intervention in at least three Roma neighborhoods - in a big city, small town and village. Improving infrastructure, housing, employment and education in these areas will create a model that can be widely applied in the next programming period. Local Roma Communities will actively participate in this process, said Ms. Hristova.
Leadership by both government and non-government sector is needed to break the vicious circle that impedes the integration of Roma, said in his opening speech H.E. James Warlick, U.S. Ambassador. Discriminatory attitudes and prejudices against Roma persist not only in Bulgaria but across Europe. The unemployment rate is dramatically high, level of education - too low, the Roma do not have enough access to health care and they more often are involved in criminal activities, said the ambassador. He stressed on the important role that young and educated Roma should have to break this vicious circle. "Many of them break their ties with the community. Please do not do that - your community needs you!" said H.E. Warlick.

Four things are needed for the integration of the Roma, said Deyan Kolev, Chairman of Center Amalipe: clear direction, resources, political will and faith. Direction we have already - Bulgaria has adopted many good documents on integration, a number of successful practices in education, health and employment are also generated and tested. Funds can be found through EU funds, which do not cancel the commitment of the state budget. What we lack at this stage is a clear political will and hopefully this will change. What is required at this stage is a clear commitment from government, political support and pressure from the European Commission and the participation of Roma organizations. The fourth missing element is the belief that integration can happen. After so many years we all lost faith that something can change. “Coleagues, do not lose your faith - if it disappears, all previous efforts will be lost! " called Mr. Kolev.

 
During the forum, a report "European Funds and Roma integration 2007 .- 2009," was introduced. The report was conducted by team of Center Amalipe. It presents information and precise figures for the funds that are spent on measures aimed at Roma in the first three years of the EU funds in Bulgaria. Analysis of the effect, of the weaknesses and strengths in this process were made as well.
In each of the discussed Operational programs (Human Resources Development, Regional Development Program for Rural Development) presentations were made by  the authors of the report, a representative of the responsible ministry and the European Commission. So Deyan Kolev, Julia Grigorova Maria Metodieva (from the civil sector), Dominic Be, Alexandros Tsolakis and Fernando Fonseca (by the European Commission), Ivan Krastev, Orlin Alexandrov, Denitza Nikolova (By Bulgarian institutions - MLSP, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Regional development and public works) presented their positions on the topic to what extent until now the EU funds helped Roma integration. There were no discrepancies in the figures that were presented, but there were differences mainly in assessments of achievement. The participants shared the view that we must do much more. Active role in the discussions had Nicolae George and Costel Berkus (Roma Education Fund), Alexander Kracholov, Stela Kostova, Gancho Iliev (representatives of Roma organizations in Bulgaria), Bistra Valchanova and representatives of the European Commission and others.

During the closing session Operational plan for Roma integration through Structural funds was presented. The plan offers 9 interventions under the "Human Resources Development" OP and "Regional Development" OP, which will lead to optimizing the spending of EU funds and a strong support for Roma integration. The plan is based on suggestions from Roma organizations.

"The proposed measures are reasonable and I see no reason not to announce them before the end of the programming period, was the reaction of Liliana Pavlova, Deputy Minister of Regional Development, responsible for “Regional Development”  OP. She pointed out that work is already underway on drafting the basic parameters of intervention for improving housing conditions, which will be allocated BGN 16 million. Zarnitsa Rusinova, Director General of European Funds in MLSP also expressed support for the proposals. "We discuss some of them with Roma representatives in the Monitoring Committee of HRD OP and perhaps of next Committee meeting will be able to announce them," she said. At the end of the Forum Nicolae George congratulated the organizers for the high level forum.
”In Romania there is no organization that can gather as many representatives of national institutions and the European Commission: Partnership obviously exists here and Roma organizations have authority. Meanwhile, in Romania the participation of organizations in the utilization of funds is much more serious: there they get much larger projects and implement them quite successful: I wish you could do this in Bulgaria! "Said Nicolae George.