Meeting with Government and civil society representatives including

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  Daniel Vasile - National Agency for Roma (NAR): he presented the Strategy of the Government of Romania for the Inclusion of Romanian Citizens Belonging to the Roma Minority
  

He spent 20 years working in sector with NGOs and since 2004 had joined the public institution to accelerate integration of Roma community.

They had a budget for 2013 of 1.1m EUR, plus access to external funds. – Around half of these funds are disseminated to NGO for projects. Their focus was on housing projects, to purchase homes, as over 60% of Roma do not have deeds of their home.
The National strategy is being implemented, monitored and evaluated. This Ministry does not implement, nor is it currently able to monitor or evaluate the Strategy as there have been few actions.

However, they are now trying to identify key measures and priorities on which to focus long term as funding becomes available – so that budget can be targeted. Indicators are essential, hence a revised strategy is needed.

Additionally they are starting data collection to define concepts for monitoring.
Overall Political will is still needed with relevant funding and there is an essential need for NGOs to be listened to, especially by EU Commission.
Meeting with Ministry included interaction with representatives of public authorities and CSO :

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  Gelu Duminica, "Impreuna" Agency for Community Development. The agency was established as a legal entity on 24 September 1999 under Court Ruling 93 of Brasov County Court. Its mission is to preserve and assert Roma identity through research and the dissemination of studies, as well as through the elaboration and implementation of social policies aimed at the Roma.
  

The list of weaknesses is the National Strategy are quite large, but not the fault of anyone specifically. The multilevel approach adds challenges because local authorities need to establish the budgets for direct implementation, and lack of budgets is a common reason, along with political will, for not delivering. Examples were given of housing and infrastructure failings.

The Government is not accounting for, nor declaring its funding for the Roma inclusion. Other EU member states blame the Romanian Government; the Romanian government blames EU countries. The vicious circle is helping no one, least of all the Roma.

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  Anca Radu, The Foundation for an Open Society was established in 1990 under an initial form of association and in 1997 in its current form. To date, the Foundation has developed most of its programs in the fields of sociological research, education, migration, social inclusion, good governance, civic culture and integrated community intervention. Pleading for Roma inclusion is being made in the Decade of Roma Inclusion, a regional initiative inspired by George SOROS through the Open Society Institute and World Bank, through which new governments from Central and Eastern Europe engaged to reduce the precipice between Roma life conditions and the majority population.
  

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  Stefania Andersen, Civil Society Development Foundation (CSDF) is a non-profit organization founded in 1994, at the initiative of the European Commission, actively involved at both national and European level in the public dialogue between civil society and authorities, and between national and international organizations. CSDF research helped the public sector and the major international donors active in Romania, to design their policies, based on relevant information regarding the impact of the NGO projects in society. CSDF acts as a monitoring of public policies and some financing. The same frustrations were felt by all the NGOs.
  

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  Marian Mandache, Romani CRISS. It's a non-governmental organization established on April 4^th, 1993, which defends and promotes the rights of Roma in Romania by providing legal assistance in cases of abuse and works to combat and prevent racial discrimination against Roma in all areas of public life, including the fields of education, employment, housing and health.
  

CRISS were clear that it was wrong to focus on the Strategy; the focus should be on the local activities by NGOs in driving change. Education as an example was showing positive steps: School mediator, mother-tongue education, affirmative actions. There was a need for the Roma cultural teaching in all mainstream education, so that children learn from an early age that Roma have existed in EU for centuries, this will overcome the media and political stereotypes. Adaptable policies for all. There should be a debate on best mechanisms to integrate Roma into schools and decrease the drop-out rate.

Additionally the forced evictions and demolishing of communities by Mayors, the lack of identity papers and the lack of structural funds for the development of communities were increasing the problems. It is essential to include Roma in the structural development to support integration. The creation of jobs does not touch Roma.

Reality is lack of action targeting Roma communities!

Discussion with Civil Society Development Foundation (CSDF):

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  Raluca Simbotin, Stefania Andersen, EESC member Ionut Sibian
  

A general discussion on politics in Romania and in EU, policies and support for Roma and civil society organisations and how the funding and projects are disseminated.

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  Florin Botonogu, Policy Center for Roma and Minorities
  

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  Georgian- Viorel Lunca, Roma Culture Museum of Romania, Romano ButiQ Association
  

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  Daniel Rădulescu, SASTIPEN - excused. SASTIPEN's mission is to promote dialogue, participation and community involvement in the decision-making structures regarding public policies addressed to Roma and non-Roma citizens by improving communication between authorities and administrative structures of local communities, national and international, as well as notifying the competent bodies, in terms of human rights violations, related to the objectives of the association. SASTIPEN aims at designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating policies to improve the situation of disadvantaged groups as well as protect human rights based on the principle of non-discrimination and equality between citizens.
  

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  Marian Ursan, Carousel is a volunteer based organization and the drop-in center functions strictly on a volunteer run basis due the lack of finances. Worryingly, ARAS is going to be closing the needle exchange program in June this year due to a lack of finances. 
  

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  Adrian Marin, Roma Secretariat Foundation - The mission of the Foundation is the integral promotion of the Roma community on the basis of respect and support for their cultural identity. To this end, the FSG develops all kinds of actions that contribute to achieving the full citizenship of Roma, to improving their living conditions, to promoting equal treatment and to preventing any form of discrimination, while promoting the recognition of the cultural identity of the Roma community. The diversity of our society renders interculturalism increasingly relevant, so we must project adequately the intercultural character of our organisation, both as our hallmark and as a proposal for society as a whole.
  

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  Cristina Costea, The Community Development Association - excused "Together for the Future"- excused. The organization was founded in January 2012, in Spantov, from a group of Roma youth initiative, running several local activities per year. It operates in the country of Călărași, aiming primarily at the economic, social and cultural development of Spantov. The organization has experience in the implementation of projects for children and young people at risk, including projects in rural areas.
  

The overall discussion included:

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  A focus on young people and how the values skills and talents of these young people as a project could be used to keep them in schools. Much good work was being done but not recognized nor supported by the Government, EU or private business.
  
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  There needed to be more help for poorer communities to have access to structural funds – housing, access to water, electricity and security. Ghettos and segregated housing or education conditions were fuelling discrimination.
  
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  Ignorance and lack of information brings the racism and discrimination. Neither Roma nor non-Roma were looking to integrate and learn more of each others cultures.
  
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  Majority desire for Roma to be part of Romanian and EU society, but not the other way around, and there were prejudices on both sides at all level which meant few real results were ever visible.
  
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  90% of Roma in Romania living in extreme poverty and exclusion.
  
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  No mapping of Roma communities or their living conditions.
  
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  National Strategy created without mapping, knowledge or evidence.
  
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  No evaluation report of the strategy known. Unknown if coordination meetings have taken place regarding the Strategy or implementation.
  
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  Many actions funded only by EU Commission, no evidence of funding from National Government.
  
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  Helping in field of social economy, co-operatives and craftspeople could and was creating some jobs and economic opportunities but little funding to create sustainability or long term growth or stability.
  
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  In the worst cases it was an issue of just trying just to keep the people alive. Where poor health, alcoholism, drug use etc were rife essential social work was needed and was given by the few and often without any funds or minimal project support. Training for the Police was also given but it remained a difficult task.
  
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  Swiss funded project on educational support for Roma, counselling and mediation services, were also invaluable in providing support for families.
  

The wish list of the Roma civil society representatives and project coordinators was to be listened to, utilized for the expertise and knowledge and to receive a fair distribution of funding so that long term sustainable changes could be made. There was a comprehension that much of the money was EU tax payers funds and that it needed to be audited and monitored, but at the same time, Government projects and discrimination in the dissemination of funds was never taken into consideration – they hypocrisy needed to be dealt with to bring about sustainable change in a country which faced the worst Roma issues in the EU.

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  Policy Center for Roma and Minorities is a non-governmental, non-profit, think-tank organization founded in 2008 in Romania, which acts towards solving social inclusion related issues of Roma and other ethnic minorities. The organization was established as a follow-up of Roma Diplomacy, a program that had as a main purpose the creation of a highly qualified, articulate group of European Roma with diplomatic skills. For more information please visit www.policycenter.eu/en
  

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  The Alternative Education Club is a new, safe, open, creative and challenging space for the children living in the Ferentari ghetto area in Bucharest. Currently, the club is set up at the Elementary School no. 136, but for the future, we plan to extend the project to other schools in the neighborhood. The club was created in June 2010 and represents a first for Romania, while in Europe there are only a few similar initiatives.
  

We experienced directly the alternative education club where we learnt about the challenges, and opportunities in working with young, and often excluded or drop out students from one of thye worst ghetto areas in Romania.

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  Continuous presence in one school for two years and extension to a second community since the end of 2011
  
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  Recruitment and retention of a total of 150 children
  
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  Recruitment of seven educators and 20 regular volunteers
  
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  Direct and constant involvement of 20 parents and 20 teachers
  
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  Football (boys’ team), basketball
  
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  Dozens of football and basketball matches involving children as either players or supporters and displaying messages against racism
  
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  Participation and awards secured by street dance team in national street dance champions
  
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  Participation of 27 children in the basketball camps
  
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  Improvement in the children’s educational performance: better grades, lower drop
  
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  Improvement in the children’s behaviour and a decrease in violent incidents (71% of the children enrolled in activities do not display aggressive behaviours)
  
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  All children and parents involved characterize the experience as positive.
  
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  practice street dance lessons, theatre and tutoring in core academic
  

_____________

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  Salomé Adroher Biosca, Director General - Directorate General for the Family and Childhood Services, Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality.
  

Ms Adroher Biosca is the national contact point for the strategy for the inclusion of the Roma population in Spain. She informed the EESC delegation that the common European framework had been incorporated into the 2012-2020 national strategy, adopted on 2 March 2012. Furthermore, on 8 April 2014, the first operational plan was adopted, for the years 2014-2016.

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  Grants to develop programmes, known as IRPF [income tax] grants. In their income tax returns, taxpayers may put an X for social programmes. This procedure ensures that some tax revenues are channelled towards social projects through NGOs. Some of these funds are used to finance activities benefiting the Roma community, and this works very well. There are both specific and general programmes. A total of 7,5 million euro were awarded for Roma projects in 2014.
  

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  Grants to support organisations.
  

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  tackle policies in the context of the crisis
  

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  strengthen administrative cooperation with the Autonomous Communities (regional governments) and local authorities
  

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  combat discrimination and negative stereotypes
  

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  Ms Carmen Plaza, Director General for Equality of chance
  

Ms Plaza informed the EESC delegation that two projects are currently running:

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  Mapping discrimination: to do this, a survey is first carried out on discrimination and ethnically-motivated hate crimes. All data from the different national and local administrations are processed in order to boost the resources of victims covered by each authority. The plan is to complete the survey in the coming months and thus to better understand the phenomenon, develop prevention policies and combat discrimination, so that people are aware of their rights and have the means to defend themselves.
  

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  The CODI anti-discrimination project, co-financed by the EU and carried out in schools and universities. Data are collected in order to strengthen the strategy to promote diversity. There has also been an awareness-raising campaign for adolescents under the slogan ‘I am you” http://www.mezclate.es/
  

In conjunction with the Institute of Women within the strategic equal opportunities plan, programmes are promoted to integrate women - and not only Roma women - who have suffered discrimination. These include the Clara programme, which is run in collaboration with local authorities, and the Sara programme, in conjunction with the third sector, aimed at training immigrant women and supporting women’s organisations, whether or not they are Roma:

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