Government is ready to make additional efforts to increase inclusion of Roma and Egyptians

Podgorica, Montenegro (13 June 2018)-- The Government of Montenegro is ready to make additional efforts in order to improve the situation of Roma and Egyptians and their greater inclusion in the Montenegrin society, especially in the area of social protection, health and education, as the basis for the overall social and economic progress of this community, Deputy Prime Minister Zoran Pažin said today's meeting with Katarína Mathernová, Deputy Director-General for Enlargement in the European Commission.

"Today, we have over 8,000 citizens who declare themselves as members of the Roma or Egyptian population. It is a significant community that deserves the full attention of the society," DPM Pažin stressed.

DPM Pažin expressed his gratitude for the efforts and resources the European Union and other international organisations have invested in the inclusion policy in Montenegro, adding that recent research jointly implemented by the UN, the World Bank and the EU offer valuable guidelines for further work to improve the position of Roma and Egyptians in Montenegro.

Ms Mathernová welcomed the Government's determination to make additional efforts towards a greater degree of integration of the Roma and Egyptian communities into the Montenegrin society.

In that regard, she expressed the readiness of the European Union to continue supporting the reform processes in Montenegro in order to adopt the highest European standards in the field of protection and affirmation of the rights of marginalised social groups.

Following the meeting, DPM Pažin, Ms Mathernová and representative of the NGO Mladi Romi Samir Jaha spoke at the opening of the seminar "Inclusive society: Regulation of socio-economic position of Roma and Egyptians."