News

At the end of June the Spansh Presidency of EU approved the Roadmap of the European Roma Platform discussed during the third meeting of the Platform (June 17) .  The document intends to structure the work of European Roma Platform identifying key issues addressed by the Platform, working methods, outputs and dissemination plan. According to the document the Platform will meet at least once a six months and its general meetings will be prepared by Thematic Working Groups. EU institutions, international organizations, Member State  governments, Committee of Regions and Roma NGOs will take part in the work of EU Roma Platform. It will not have a permanent set of representatives; different experts will be invited according to the themes discussed. The Platform will not only exchange information among the stakeholders but also will prepare recommendations, suggestions and proposals to different EU institutions; it will play pro-active role in influencing the agenda of the thematic Councils and other institutions. Important new trend included after the discussion on June 17 is that the Platform will play pro-active role to the national governments.
The draft approved incorporates most of the suggestions raised during the third Platform meeting. In particular it includes the suggestion raised by the Amalipe chair Deyan Kolev: intercultural education and structural funds are incorporated as specific key issues adresed by the Platform agenda; the requirment for stronger participation from the Member states in the Platform meetings is also included; the Platform will prepare also recommendations to the Member States in order to put Roma issue in they agenda, etc.