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Leading Roma organizations stated that the European Commission failеdto include Roma voices and input in the development of its new “EU framework for national Roma integration strategies up to 2020.” The groups complain that new strategy for Roma integration, which was released this week by the executive arm of the European Union was not consulted with Roma NGOs. Although it is an important step forward it misses key elements that sharply decrease its possible effectiveness. Certain steps should be undertaken in the following weeks to ensure the efficient implementation of the communication at national level.

The group of 36 organizations from 16 countries met in Budapest as part of a conference organized by the Decade of Roma Inclusion, an initiative of governments and civil society aimed at improving the lives of Europe’s more than ten million Roma. Bulgaria was represented by Deyan Kolev (Center Amalipe) and Milen Milanov (Diverse and Equal Association).

Among the main shortfalls of the Framework, the group highlighted:

-     The target on education is very low. Fulfilling only primary education is inadequate goal that would not change the life of Roma;

-     The Framework lacks a clear gender dimension, which experience has shown is crucial to achieve good results;

-     The Framework does not explicitly address the issue of preserving and renewing Roma culture;

-     The Framework fails to mention the worrying rise of anti-Gypsyism, negative prejudices, and institutionalized discrimination;

-    The Framework does not envisage mechanisms for ensuring that the national governments will prepare National Roma Strategies in a quality way

The Roma group also underscored three key questions for the European Commission:

1.     How does the Commission plan on ensure effective national policies involving all relevant stakeholders including civil society and regional and local authorities?

2.     How will the Commission ensure there is full and effective monitoring?

3.     In light of the new Framework how can the EU Roma Platform provide proper oversight and debate on national strategies involving a much wider part of Roma civil society?

Roma NGOs raised a set of concrete suggestions in these areas. They asked for example the Commission to prepare Guidelines to the national governments for implementing the communication. The process of adopting the National Roma Strategies should follow the manner of preparing the National Reform Plans and to be linked with the last documents. Monitoring the implementation of the National Roma Strategies should include also the input of the civil society: through establishing shadow-reporting system, national Roma expert focal points, etc.

“The Framework offers no guarantees to ensure national strategies will be developed in close consultation with Roma civil society. Civil society is ready to play an active role in the policy-making process; we only ask the European Commission to engage with us,” said Zeljko Jovanovic, Director of Open Society Roma Initiatives. “The national governments could enable the communication via preparing formal “paper” Strategy and not including civil society in the process. We will do our work at national level to participate actively in preparing good National Roma Strategies and our participation will be guarantee for the quality of the process. Nevertheless, the support of the European Commission will be of key importance!” explained Deyan Kolev from Center Amalipe.