Earlier in 2013 the European Commission warned Member States that they needed to do better in implementing policies which effectively promote the economic and social integration of Roma people within their border. As a result, on the 9 December national social ministers from the EU’s 28 Member States adopted a set of recommendations which commit governments to taking targeted action to bridge the gaps between the Roma and the rest of the population. This builds on the framework for national strategies on Roma inclusion agreed by Member States in 2011, which seek to ensure that Member States develop effective and comprehensive strategies for the inclusion of the 10-12 million Roma living in Europe.

What does the recommendation say?

The recommendation provides guidance to Member States in enhancing the effectiveness and strengthening the implementation of policy measures aimed at improving the situation of Roma in the area of education, employment, health care and housing.

Access to education
- eliminating any school segregation
- reducing early school leaving at all levels
- increasing access to and quality of early childhood education and care Access to employment
- equal access to mainstream employment
- supporting first work experience, vocational training, on the job training, lifelong learning and skills development 

Access to health care
- access to mainstream health services
- promoting awareness of health and healthcare issuesAccess to housing
- eliminating any spatial segregation and promoting de-segregation
-ensuring access to public utilities 

In addition, the recommendation gives guidance to Member States on the necessary cross-cutting policies for Roma integration, for ensuring that the strategies go local, enforcing anti-discrimination rules, following a social investment approach, protecting Roma children and women, and addressing poverty.

Although the recommendation is not legally binding, Member States are now expected to put into practice concrete measures to make a difference for Roma people on the ground. Once a year the European Commission will publish a report on the progress made in each country in the above mentioned areas.

What role for local and regional government?

Above all, the new recommendation asks Member States to spend effectively EU funding available in the new funding period 2014-2020 and also to commit national and third sector funding to measures which support Roma integration. With a budget of 70 billion, the newly negotiated European Social Fund will remain an important financial lever to support Roma inclusion; however Member States need to ensure that they allocate EU money to support the development of local action strategies or sets of local policy measures within wider social inclusion policies, after which national and local authorities should cooperate in the implementation and monitoring of those strategies.

Resources

• Strengthening Member State commitments to Roma integration


• Using the European Social Fund to fight marginalisation


• The EU and Roma