European Commission adopts first Communication on Roma communities

On 7 April 2010 the European Commission adopted the first Communication specifically on the Roma. The Communication defines the challenges that will have to be dealt with and outlines an action programme.

The Communication highlights the complexity and interdependence of the problems Roma face, such as discrimination, poverty, low educational achievement, labour market barriers, housing segregation and poor health.

What are the challenges identified by the European Commission?

 Improved cooperation between European, national and international players and representatives of Roma communities, building on the commitment to inclusion that materialised over the last 5-10 years;
 The translation of this commitment and cooperation into positive changes at the local level. This needs to be complemented by improved ownership and strengthened capacity on the part of local administrations, civil society and the Roma themselves to initiate and implement projects, programmes and policies;
 The promotion of the integrated use of EU Funds in order to tackle the multi-dimensional challenges of Roma exclusion;
 The development of explicit desegregation policies, notably in education and housing, and supported by the Structural Funds;
 Mainstreaming Roma inclusion issues into the broad policy areas of education, employment, public health, infrastructure & urban planning, and economic and territorial development, rather than treating it as a separate policy.

In order to promote Roma integration, the European Commission will attempt to strengthen the impact of the EU Structural Funds (European Social Fund and European Regional Development Fund). It further proposes the creation of a set of model approaches for social and economic integration with the aim to increase the effectiveness of public policy. These approaches will indentify which policy tools should be used to deal with the specific problems of Roma communities.

What proposals does the European Commission make?

The European Commission proposes to:

 continue to organise high-level bilateral events in Member States and to follow up subsequent developments: it will take stock of the results of these events by the end of 2013;
 urge Member States to take action to ensure that interventions financed by Structural Funds promote equal opportunities and tackle segregation;
 encourage Member States to use the EURoma network to exchange best practices;
 support a network on Roma studies to better link research and policy;
 address the inclusion of Roma when developing and implementing the ‘European Platform against Poverty’ Flagship Initiative, proposed by the Commission as part of the EU 2020 Strategy;
 invite Member States to address Roma issues when reporting on the implementation of national policies in all fields relevant for Roma inclusion (e.g., education, employment, social protection and social inclusion, and health) in the framework of the Open Method of Coordination and of the EU2020 Strategy; the European Commission will integrate a specific employment-related focus on Roma into the Mutual Learning Programme 2010-2011;
 explore the most effective ways to ensure in its internal procedures that the mainstreaming of Roma issues in all relevant policies is guaranteed; and
 enable the Roma themselves to influence policy processes, including through co-financing the operations of a European level network active in representing the Roma;

The full communication is available here.

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 Health Technology Assesments - understanding the political challenges
 EU Action on Roma Integration
 EPHA Briefing Paper and Policy Recommendations on Roma Health
 Guide launching for the social integration of Roma in Europe