The European Commission has just included Eurodiaconia’s written contributions in its post-2020 initiative on Roma equality and inclusion.

The current EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies (NRIS) comes to an end in 2020 and a new initiative is being prepared. In the course of the preparation the Commission is accepting input from civil society organisations to help devise a more comprehensive strategy. Together with its members and partners Eurodiaconia has been involved in the promotion of Roma inclusion across Europe and in supporting vulnerable EU mobile citizens, among whom many are Roma.

The contributions included in the Commission’s Framework are our Policy Recommendations and our Statement on the next EU Roma Strategy. On policy level we recommended increased efforts, adequate budget, improved capacity-building initiatives, strengthened involvement of Roma and pro-Roma civil society and more specific targeting. We also recommend measures to improve Roma’s access to social rights, housing and employment. Our network of social service providers firmly believes that a follow-up strategy to the current EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies (NRIS) up to 2020 is needed to continue efforts to foster Roma Inclusion.

You can read the Policy Recommendations and the Statement on the Commission’s website.