To discuss the conclusions of the report, the 10th meeting of the International Steering Committee of the Decade of Roma Inclusion was held in Sofia for two days in mid-June. It was organised by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy in its capacity as a National Co-ordinating Body of the Decade of Roma Inclusion under the Bulgarian Decade presidency. Labour and Social Policy Minister Emilia Maslarova, World Bank deputy president Shigeo Katsu and Open Society Institute (ISO) chairman George Soros were among the participants. The forum was organised by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and was chaired by Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev.
Addressing the participants at the forum, Stanishev said that Bulgaria’s EU membership has provided new instruments - financial, political and managerial, which should be effectively used in efforts towards Roma inclusion in society.
Reminding that the Decade initiative had begun in Bulgaria two years previously, Stanishev called for an integrated EU policy aimed at the integration of the Roma minority. According to Stanishev, each country participating in the Decade initiative would not be not able to solve its Roma issues on its own. Greater attention was necessary from European institutions on Roma-related issues and EU countries should insist on forming of common policies on Roma integration, a point that was strongly supported by Katsu and Soros.
Some of the main positive results achieved under the initiative since 2005 were presented. This included achievements in employment, access to education and gaining qualifications. Stanishev said that Bulgaria’s year-long presidency of the Decade from July 1 2006 to June 30 this year had been good experience, but said that despite some good results achieved by the country, there was still much to be done about the attitude of Bulgarians towards the Roma minority and the need for greater discussion on the subject.
“It is important that we explain to people that we are not implementing a policy that prioritises a special minority group, but rather that this policy is a necessity without which the problems of the Roma would become worse, and at the end of the day this would cost a lot to the entire Bulgarian society,” Stanishev said.
According to Stanishev, institutions and NGOs in Bulgaria should co-ordinate their Roma social integration efforts.
He said that there was a need for expert and political discussion among institutions and NGOs on the creation of a new Framework Programme on Roma Integration for the period 2008-2015.
The domestic integration of the Roma is part of Bulgaria’s real integration in the EU in every sense, Stanishev underlined.
There should be political will in dealing with Roma issues, while there was also a need to better explain Government policy on the Roma. This would mean that there would be greater transparency in the way funds for Roma integration were spent.
Maslarova, whose ministry is meant to lead efforts on Roma integration, gave a briefing on qualification and employment programmes for Roma people. About 43 000 Roma have received professional qualifications and a further 83 000 have found jobs.
Maslarova underlined as a great challenge and problem the attitude against the Roma within Bulgarian society.
“It is important for us to change public understanding and to break stereotypes,” she said.
Equality must be made a reality during this year of equal opportunity declared by the EU. The care of Roma children must become a priority and children’s education from the earliest age is currently one of the most discussed challenges facing the state, she said.
Soros, who is directly involved in the Decade of Roma Inclusion, said that he was happy that Bulgaria had achieved some progress since the programme started two years ago.
Soros called for appropriate use of EU structural funds. He suggested that a group including representatives of each country participating in the programme be formed. The group would lay down particular aims and results that the initiative wanted to achieve, while considering the specific needs of each country.
While in Bulgaria, Soros met with state as well as NGO representatives involved with the Decade of Roma Inclusion initiative. This was Soros’s second visit to Bulgaria after the initiative started in 2005.
Katsu emphasised the importance of effective use of EU structural funds to help integrate the Roma in Bulgaria.
“Let us always remind ourselves that when we speak of the Decade of Roma Inclusion, we talk about an European issue and a social cohesion of the Roma,” Katsu said.
