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European Network on Social Inclusion and Roma under the Structural Funds
Structural Funds: Investing in Roma
25th September | Council of Europe
With the aim of addressing the situation of European Roma, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe organised a Summit of Mayors on Roma in Strasbourg (France) on 22nd September.
With the aim of addressing the situation of the estimated 12 million European Roma, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe organised a Summit of Mayors on Roma in Strasbourg (France) on 22nd September 2011. The Summit gathered more than 300 people from 24 countries. The final declaration of the Summit proposes the creation of a European Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma Inclusion.
The Summit is a response to the increasing discrimination against Roma in Europe and their social and economic marginalisation. The Strasbourg Declaration on Roma, adopted by the High-level Meeting of the Council of Europe on 20th October 2010, highlighted the particular importance of local and regional action to improve the situation of Roma.
Under the theme “Building mutual trust at the grassroots”, the Summit was organised in co-operation with the Special Representative of the Council of Europe Secretary General for Roma issues, Jeroen Schokkenbroek, and in partnership with the City of Strasbourg and the Strasbourg Club municipal network. It brought together representatives of municipalities, regions and networks actively addressing the situation of Roma or interested in becoming involved, Roma organisations and elected representatives as well as other institutions concerned with this situation, in order to provide a co-operation framework for action in favour of Roma.
Debates focused on relations between local and regional authorities and Roma communities. They underlined that to fight exclusion and discrimination; the local representatives must be proactive in implementing policies at the local level. Solutions discussed included ending barriers to education that are created through lack of documentation, bringing communities together in order to overcome prejudice, and creating inclusive and flexible services so that the Roma can have equal access to housing, healthcare and employment.
The Summit was opened in the Hemicycle of the Palais de l’Europe by Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland (declaration available in video), the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe Keith Whitmore, Alan Meale, on behalf of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Olga Romanyuk, Vice-Minister of Regional Development, Construction and Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine representing the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, and the Mayor of Strasbourg and President of the Strasbourg Club, Roland Ries.
In the first discussion table, in which a video message from Viviane Reding, Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, European Commission, was broadcasted, participated among others Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europe, Jeroen Schokkenbroek, Special Representative of the Council of Europe Secretary General on Roma Issues, Rudko Kawczynski, President of the European Roma and Travellers Forum, Ivan Ivanov, Executive Director, European Roma Information Office.
Afterwards, discussions were organized in three thematic workshops regarding the integration strategies through education, the fight against prejudice and the management of diversity and the equal access to housing, health care and employment.
To conclude and before the presentation of the final declaration by the Congress President Keith Whitmore, the Spanish José Manuel Fresno, in his capacity of President of the Spanish Council for the Promotion of Equal Treatment and Against Discrimination presented a general report on the social inclusion of Roma in Europe entitled “Preparing the future”.
In the final declaration of the Summit (available in the website in English, French, Italian, German, Romanian and Russian) it was proposed to create a European Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma Inclusion which could implement effectively the recommendations set out in the Strasbourg Declaration on Roma of 2010.
For further information, please visit: www.coe.int/t/congress/Sessions/20110922-Roma-Summit/default_en.asp
