European Union Commissioner Pledges Continued Support to Roma

Washington DC, September 23 - European Union Commissioner for Regional Policy Danuta Hübner expressed strong support for the Decade of Roma Inclusion at a special meeting of Ministry of Finance officials convened today by the World Bank in Washington, DC to review progress on the initiative.

“The Commission is working actively with civil society and other partners to channel the full weight of our funding and legislation towards helping the Roma in the eight countries of Central and Southeast Europe covered by the Decade,” said Ms. Hübner.

The aims of the Decade and the goals of European regional policy—and its funding mechanisms—are closely aligned, said the Commissioner. The EU has already agreed to provide Structural Funds to member states Hungary, Czech Republic, and the Slovak Republicfor eligible Roma programs. Pre-Accession Funds are available to the other five Decade countries that are not yet members of the EU. 

Commissioner Hübner said she was working with Vladimír Špidla, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, to raise awareness of the Roma issue among other members of the European Commission. She emphasized the critical role of education in empowering the Roma community.

The Washington meeting was convened by Shigeo Katsu, the World Bank’s Europe and Central Asia Vice President, and included delegations from the eight countries that have signed on to the Decade, plus international partner organizations such as the Open Society Institute (OSI) and UNDP, and Western European countries. Mr. Katsu urged governments to act swiftly in converting promises into concrete policy actions that will produce results.

Romanian Minister of Finance Sebastian Vladescu, whose country took over the rotating chairmanship of the Decade in July, said Romania would announce shortly specific programs to address the issues of employment, education, health, and housing, the four areas covered by the Decade. He placed Romania’s efforts at tackling Roma poverty and social exclusion in the context of his country’s effort to join the European Union.

Stephen Rickard, director of OSI’s Washington office, pointed out that great expectations have accompanied the wide public recognition of the Decade, and it was now high time to take action.

Mr. Rickard urged the Decade countries to earmark specific funds in their 2006 budgets and explore co-funding opportunities among the Decade partners. OSI remains steadfastly committed to the success of the Decade, he said.

UNDP Assistant Administrator Kálmán Mizsei updated the group on how his agency is building capacity to monitor implementation of the Decade, and announced that a base-line study on Roma living conditions will be published in January.

Annette Dixon, the interim chairperson of the Roma Education Fund’s Board and World Bank Director, said the fund’s office was now operating under interim leadership from offices in Budapest. A full-time director and deputy director will take up their posts in October. Also in October, the REF will announce its first round of project awards aimed at systemic reforms to foster Roma inclusion. Disbursements will be made before the end of the year, she said. 

Projects submitted to the fund range from ones aimed at revamping school curricula to training Roma educators.   Ms. Dixon described the REF’s role as both a source of funds and a knowledge-sharing organization, aiming to play a catalytic role in the region.

Ms. Dixon also announced the creation of a Decade Trust Fund to be endowed by the Decade countries with matching funds from the partner organizations. The Trust Fund will support technical assistance activities and enable the sharing of experience across countries.

The meeting adjourned with a final call from Mr. Katsu to the countries to embed national actions into their 2006 budget frameworks to ensure the sustainability of the Decade.