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Work session on the issue of inclusion of the Roma Integration Theme into the Norwegian Financial Mechanism (2009 - 2014) was held on 25 November at the Council of Ministers, Sofia. The meeting was attended by Zsolt Tostsegi (Manager of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism for Bulgaria and Romania), Anelia Grozdanova (Head of "Monitoring of EU Funds" Directorate within the Administration Unit of the Council of Ministers), Svetla Semerdzhieva (Manager of the  "Financial Mechanism of EFTA”  Program at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway), Georgi Krustev (Deputy chair of NCCEII), representatives of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Justice. Deyan Kolev took part on behalf of CIDT Amalipe.

A more goal-oriented (targeted) approach to support Roma integration is necessary, states Zsolt Tostsegi in his memorandum. Thus,  in the memorandum of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism signed by the Bulgarian and the Norwegian governments on June 17 is envisaged that  10% of funds allocated for five programs will be used for projects targeting the Roma. These Programs are targeted at children and youth at risk (Program Coordinator: Ministry of Education, Youth and Science), Public Health (Program Coordinator: Ministry of Health), domestic violence (Program Coordinator: Ministry of Internal Affairs), NGO Fund. Mr. Tostsegi pointed out that funding for these programs should be used to support the National Strategy for Roma Integration.

Deyan Kolev emphasized that Roma organizations need to participate actively in setting priorities in the aforementioned areas - otherwise could the priorities or approaches chosen prove irrelevant. On account of this, Kolev insisted on involvement of Roma organizations in working groups on each of the five areas above. He stated that to the Action Plan for implementing the National Roma Strategy a special Annex with Programs will be enclosed to facilitate the document implementation. Some of them can be funded through various operational programs, others - from the state budget, but there are also several programs that could not be supported by any of the two funding sources. It is exactly these Programs for which funding through the Norwegian Financial Mechanism shall be provided, suggested Kolev.

From the talk with the different program coordinators becames clear that they differ in terms of preparation to start their activity.  Ministry of Health has just begun work on setting priorities and deciding on calls for proposals. The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Internal Affairs are still discussing on benchmark priorities, but not yet come to a decision. The Ministry of Education has decided to take efforts in the northwest region of Bulgaria  in the field of early child development. On the question set from  Deyan Kolev why it has not discussed it  in advance with Roma organizations, the Head of Directorate "European Funds" in the Ministry of Education Mrs. Milcheva said that talks have been already conducted with the "Drom"  Foundation - Vidin and the Association of Health Mediators.