The integration of Roma – the key question in the every political agenda

The third seminar on Roma issues, was held earlier today in Podgorica. It was organised by Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro in cooperation with General Directorate for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations. The topic of this year seminar is "From words to deeds - towards the integration of Roma", and was opened by Ms Marta Garcia-Fidalgo, coordinator for Roma integration policy in the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, and Mr Suad Numanovic, Minister for Human and Minority Rights to the Government of Montenegro.

The significance of Roma and Egyptian integration was also emphasized in the European Commission’s 2015 Report on Montenegro, where Roma and Egyptian inclusion was recognised as one of the key issues and fundamental rights in the candidate countries. Hence, the significance of this seminar as a continuation of previous, held in 2014, in order to direct attention to the integrations of Roma and Egyptians in Montenegro, as well as the upcoming challenges in the five key fields: education, employment, health, housing and anti-discrimination.

Minister Numanovic pointed out that Government of Montenegro is fully committed to creating and implementing politics for faster and full social inclusion and improvement of economic situation of Roma and Egyptians in Montenegro, which is definitely complementary with the main aim of the recently launched Roma Integration Initiative 2020, which followed completion of the decade of Roma Inclusion 2005-2015.

Minister Numanovic emphasized that politic of Montenegro’s Government in this field comprises measures and activities which, through multidisciplinary approach of all relevant institutions, have an aim to provide assistance, primarily to the individual and his family, as well as that following this approach the process of Roma and Egyptians integration will be increased. Minister Numanovic introduced the audience with the fact that the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights actively participates in the implementation of projects, realized through international support.

Director General for the promotion and protection of the rights and freedoms of minorities and other national minority groups, Leon Gjokaj, presented the Strategy for social inclusion of Roma and Egyptians 2016-2020 together with an action plan for its implementation, as well as the activities implemented by the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights. Named activities have an aim to improve the situation of Roma and Egyptians in Montenegro. Five working groups discussed earlier today about improving five key areas for the future.

During the discussion it was noted that significant progress has been achieved in all areas of integration. It was emphasized that the obligation of the relevant actors, at all levels, is to continue its work in the process of inclusion of Roma and Egyptian communities in our society, as well as the importance of continuing cooperation between state authorities, local authorities, civil society, international institutions and organizations in order to achieve full integration of Roma and Egyptian population. It was noted that there is still a lot of work in this area, but that events like this one will significantly contribute to defining guidelines for conducting further policy and the protection and promotion of human rights.

Ministry for Human and Minority Rights