Skopje, 6 April 2023 (MIA) – The inclusion of Roma people within society is an important indicator of how successful, we as the European Union and North Macedonia, as a country negotiating to become an EU member, are in uniting diversity. Let’s show that we are on the right path, the EU supports you on this path and is cooperating with the authorities, with the Roma community, society and beyond, said EU Ambassador to North Macedonia David Geer at the “Roma Strategy, Present and Future Steps” Conference on Thursday.

The Conference was addressed by President Stevo Pendarovski, Minister of Labor and Social Policy Jovanka Trenchevska, Minister of Health Fatmir Mexhiti, Minister of Education and Science Jeton Shaqiri, Minister of Culture Bisera Kostadinovska-Stojchevska and Minister of Transport and Communications Blagoj Bochvarski.

“A lot has been done in the past years throughout Europe, in order to protect the culture of the Roma people, their language and their basic rights. Regardless, poverty, discrimination and exclusion, which have historically affected the Roma people, are still visible in the countries of Europe, in the European Union and beyond, including the countries that are negotiating with the EU, as is the case with North Macedonia,” said Geer.

The EU Ambassador indicated that the EU has noted a lot of hardship and discrimination faced by Roma people, and it is taking steps to solve these issues, as well as providing financial aid, and creating programs to be implemented in the EU and beyond.

Geer stressed the importance of focusing on issues such as non-discrimination, accommodation, right to education, right to work, civil society organizations and moving from EU initiatives and conferences to concrete steps.

“In order to solve this issue we need action from the EU, but also from all other partners, in order to promote human and social rights and tackle poverty, to eliminate prejudices, to accept diversity as an advantage. Which is why the EU Enlargement Strategy requires that all countries prepare strategies, national actions and action plans for the inclusion of Roma people, as is the case with your country,” said Geer.

He noted that the European Commission is focusing its support for equality, inclusion and participation, education, employment, health services and accommodation of Roma people through proposals, both to member states and aspiring members, and the entire process is supported by practical steps and action on the ground.

“Regarding the situation in North Macedonia, the EU is providing significant support for the Strategy for the Inclusion of Roma People, which the Government adopted in 2022. This is a document that received attention, but the challenges mentioned by President Pendarovski show that we need to ensure that this strategy is implemented through practice, and all of that requires political will, coordination, partnership and of course confirmation that there are enough funds and resources to implement the strategy,” said EU Ambassador Geer at the Conference.