EU Consultation on the EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies: preliminary findings are out
Last Updated: 15 February 2018
by Giacomo MANCA
Last summer, the European Commission opened up a consultation process, to collect views on the implementation of the EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies (NRIS), launched in 2011 and running until 2020. The consultation aimed in particular at gathering opinions on the achievements and challenges at European and national level during the first five years of implementation in the areas of education, employment, healthcare, housing and discrimination. The EU Office of the Salvation Army contributed to this consultation thanks to the work of some of its members most active in Roma Inclusion, in the Netherlands, in Sweden and in the United Kingdom.
In general, the respondents agreed that there has been no major change regarding the situation of Roma in employment, healthcare or housing. Moreover, Roma continue to be a discriminated minority, and anti gypsyism is on the rise in some EU member states. On the positive side, almost half of the respondents recognised a moderate improvement with regard to education, since 2011.
Limited commitment from the political side, together with the lack of Roma participation in the development of inclusion measures are among the main reason for the continued marginalisation of the Roma minority.
Currently, the commission is analysing all the inputs received; a comprehensive report will be published in due course.
To read more about the figures estracted by this first screening of the consultation, you can find it here: https://ec.europa.eu/info/consultations/public-consultation-evaluation-eu-framework-national-roma-integration-strategies-2020_en
You will also find many of the studies and position papers added by the participants to the consultation.
Tags: Europe