Conference »Roma in the European Union«

 

Murska Sobota, 12 February 2010 – In Murska Sobota, Slovenia, an international conference on the situation of Roma in the EU was organized by the Roma Union of Slovenia. The participants discussed existing Roma legislation in Slovenia, acute problems of Roma communities in Europe and possible solutions for the improvement of their status in the framework of the EU, Council of Europe and OSCE.
The representatives of relevant Slovenian authorities, international organizations (also from the OSCE/ODIHR), and Roma organizations from Slovenia and abroad have attended the Conference. Mr. Milan Zver, European Parliamentarian and former Minister for Education of Slovenia, and Mr. Milan Kučan, former President of Slovenia, were invited as special guests. The later received an award for his important contribution to the improvement of the situation of Roma Community in Slovenia. He underlined that in Slovenia the legal framework for the protection of Roma is adequate, but its implementation in practice is worrisome. The Conference was attended also by Ms. Ana Petrič from the Slovenian Mission to the OSCE. She emphasized efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia in international organizations, which deal with Roma issues. Slovenia actively supports the work of the ODIHR and stresses the importance of implementation of commitments in the field of Roma integration. The participants underlined that in the EU we have a common responsibility to protect the rights of Roma and to strengthen our fight against the discrimination and intolerance against Roma in the Union.

 

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