European Roma Platform Discusses Housing Segregation Issues
The 16th edition of the European Roma Platform took place on November 30th in Madrid, Spain. The event was attended by European Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli, Spanish Minister of Social Affairs Pablo Bustindui, Members of the European Parliament, representatives of National Contact Points, European and national institutions, and non-governmental organizations.
The main topic of discussion was related to housing segregation and successful examples of overcoming it in some EU member states. Progress in implementing National Strategies for Roma equality, inclusion, and participation, support from European funds for these policies, current issues, and exemplary ways to overcome them were also discussed.
Representing Bulgaria at the European Roma Platform meeting were Rositsa Ivanova, Ahavni Tupakbashyan, Nikola Petkov (Secretariat of The National Council for Cooperation on Ethnic and Integration Issues – NCCEI), Roberto Marinov (Ministry of Labor and Social Policy), Maria Metodieva (Trust for Social Achievement), and Deyan Kolev (Amalipe Center). In his speech, Deyan Kolev drew attention to the following issues:
- Housing segregation is closely linked to educational segregation and efforts to modernize and develop the Roma community.
- It is necessary to combine “hard” and “soft” measures to overcome housing segregation, raise the educational level, achieve educational desegregation, and develop the Roma community. From this perspective, “cross-financing” from the European Fund for Regional Development, ESF, as well as the Rural Development Fund is necessary.
- At both national and local levels, there is support for activities aimed at comprehensive coverage and prevention of school dropout. At the same time, there is no political will for desegregation and the introduction of intercultural education. The resolve for housing desegregation is even lower. National governments prefer not to work on these issues, and therefore support from the European Commission and other European institutions is needed.
- At the local level, we often encounter examples of successful municipalities using funds from the European Fund for Regional Development and ESF on various topics but avoiding projects for housing desegregation in Roma neighborhoods. Therefore, the introduction of an additional condition is necessary – municipalities using funds from the European Fund for Regional Development and ESF should be obliged to invest a portion of them in projects for housing and educational desegregation.
See more:
Тhe 15-th European Roma Platform in Prague: key statements and behind them