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The FSG takes part in the third European Roma Summit [editar]

04/04/2014
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The FSG takes part in the third European Roma Summit

FSG welcomes the organisation of the Summit by the European Commission in order to renew political commitment and determination to end discrimination and foster inclusion as well as to strengthen the role of local stakeholders in the inclusion of the Roma population.

FSG welcomes the organisation of the Summit by the European Commission in order to renew political commitment and determination to end discrimination and foster inclusion as well as to strengthen the role of local stakeholders in the inclusion of the Roma population.

At the third Roma summit, hold in Brussels on April 4th 2014, the European Commission has gathered high-level representatives of the Community institutions and Member States with the aim to renew the political commitments and to ensure that the EU Framework for the National Strategies for Roma Inclusion is moving forward in the right direction and includes the local level. Commission President José Manuel Barroso, the Vice-President Viviane Reding, 5 Commissioners, as well as several Members of the European Parliament took part in the eent.

The FSG shares with the EC the importance of ensuring that the inclusion of the Roma population remains as a priority on the European political agenda after the results of the European elections.

Furthermore, we also welcome the particular attention paid to the improvement in the use of EU funds for Roma integration by local and regional authorities, where it could make a difference. The European Commission believes that although the guidelines and the commitments for the inclusion of the Roma population have been incorporated by the Member States, they have not reached the local level, where actually the implementation of actions and projects that can boost the processes of inclusion takes place. Therefore, we hope this Third European Roma Summit would serve to strengthen the role of the local stakeholders in the social inclusion of the Roma population.

At the Summit, it has been presented the European Commission’s Communication on the implementation of the EU Framework for National Roma Integration as the first report examining the impact of EU Member States’ policy measures to foster the inclusion of Roma into their societies.

In this regard, FSG agrees with the Commission that, regrettably, little tangible and sustainable impact has been achieved so far. Member States must demonstrate political will and determination to end discrimination and foster inclusion. FSG endorses the Commission’s critical approach regarding the progress of Roma inclusion within Member States. Nevertheless, we consider that the Communication has not provided a realistic picture of the current state of Roma inclusion. Nor does it present a concrete analysis of the challenges to inclusion, and the roles which all relevant actors, including the Commission itself, should play. More concrete proposals and a much stronger position by the Commission are needed to encourage Member States to comply with the objectives and commitments.

In this Communication it is highlighted the key role of FSG in the promotion of social inclusion of Roma as an intermediate body in the Operational Programme for the Fight Against Discrimination. The Acceder programme and Euroma Network (the European Network made up of representatives of twelve Member States, determined to promote the use of Structural Funds to enhance the effectiveness of policies targeting Roma people and to promote their social inclusion) are also pointed out.

We hope this Summit will serve to encourage Member States in the reinforcement of the existent framework and to drive their responses in making long-term policies to fight against discrimination and exclusion of the Roma population.

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