The ROMACT project

 

The Council of Europe and the European Commission have come together under a joint project entitled ROMACT to promote the inclusion of Roma at local and regional level. The aim of the project will be to foster mutual learning through international and national seminars and to build the capacity of local and regional authorities to develop and implement plans and projects for Roma inclusion.

 

 

The ROMACT project will be supported by the European Alliance on Roma Inclusion set up by the Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities to support the implementation of EU framework for national Roma strategies. Currently around 120 cities and regions from over 27 countries are participating in the Alliance.

 

 

Background

 

 

Since 2011 there has been a strong development of European and national policy framework for the inclusion of the Roma population, who make up between 10-12 million of Europe’s citizens. In December 2013 EU countries adopted a set of recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of policy measures aimed at improving the situation of Roma in the area of education, employment, health care and housing, with the European Commission monitoring progress in Member States through an annual report.

 

 

How will the ROMACT project add value?

 

 

The ROMACT project intends to improve the accountability, inclusiveness and responsiveness of local authorities towards Roma citizens by:

 

 

• improving the efficiency, effectiveness, ownership and sustainability of local policies, measures and delivery of services by building up political will and ensuring policy engagement at political and senior civil service level


• building the capacity of local and regional authorities to enable them to develop and implement Roma inclusion strategies


• promoting through seminars, peer guidance, peer learning, coaching and mentoring to help translate commitments into concrete action


 

 

The project will be implemented in five countries - Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, Romania and Slovakia - with around 40 participating local authorities.

 

The Commission and the Council of Europe have already committed more than €1 000 000 to the project. The same amount will be issued in a second phase to improve local projects for Roma integration.

 

 

Read more about EU's framework for national Roma inclusion strategies and EU recommendations on their implementation.