Welcome to the
14th meeting of the European Platform for Roma Inclusion!
Ministers from Member States and representatives of EU institutions have shared messages addressing the participants of the 14th European Platform for Roma Inclusion:
Elena Bonetti, Minister for Equal Opportunities and Family, Italy
Alfredas Jonuška, EESC Study group on Roma Inclusion
Simonas Kairys, Minister of Culture, Lithuania
Jana Maláčová, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Czechia
Domna Maria Michailidou, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Greece
Susanne Raab, Federal minister
The European Platform for Roma Inclusion (EPRI) aims to stimulate cooperation and exchange of experiences among all relevant stakeholders for equality, inclusion and participation of Roma people in Europe. The Platform contributes to making both European and national policies more inclusive and reflecting better on the Roma needs. The 2021 EPRI facilitates a consultative participatory forum at EU level where the voices of stakeholders can be heard. It provides an opportunity for the main stakeholders of the Roma inclusion process to discuss and reflect upon the most impactful challenges affecting Roma people in Europe.
On 7 October 2020, the Commission adopted a reformed and strengthened EU Roma Strategic Framework, which sets out a comprehensive three-pillar approach complementing the socio-economic inclusion of marginalised Roma with the fostering of equality and the promotion of participation. All Roma should have the opportunity to realise their full potential and engage fully in political, social, economic and cultural life. On 12 March 2021, the Council of the European Union adopted a Recommendation on Roma equality, inclusion and participation.
Against this background, the 14th EPRI will:
- Provide the space for Member States to declare their renewed commitment to Roma equality, inclusion and participation, in view of the reformed package put forward by the Commission for the next decade.
- Provide the opportunity to stakeholders to discuss the status of formulation of the national Roma strategic frameworks, specifically with regard to their alignment and harmonization with mainstream policies, tackling the main barriers to inclusion and equality, such as racism, discrimination and expressions of antigypsyism, and mitigating the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Roma communities.
