Throughout Europe, the situation of Roma remains critical. Studies on the living conditions of Roma people showed that 46% of the people interviewed lacked sufficient income to cover their basic needs. Their limited access to health also results in a life expectancy at birth on average 10 year lower than the general population.
On Friday 16 October from 9:30-11:30 Eurocities will be hosting a digital high-level panel debate on the role of cities in the new EU Roma strategic framework with European Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli as keynote speaker.
Through its new EU Roma strategic framework for equality, inclusion and participation, the European Commission is adopting a holistic approach by aiming to improve the situation of Roma people through access to education, employment, health and housing. The framework is also expected to put a strong focus on equal opportunities, in line with principle 3 of the European Pillar of Social Rights, anti-discrimination and participation.
In the last few years, Eurocities has been exchanging extensively with all the stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of this framework to highlight the actions and commitment of our cities in Roma inclusion. This high-level panel between Commissioner Dalli, several representative of cities and Roma CSOs will be an opportunity to react to this new framework, but also reinforce the collaboration with cities for its implementation. Nowhere is the poverty and social exclusion of Roma more visible than in cities but the inclusion of Roma people in society cannot be achieved by cities alone and without support.
Speakers include:
- Helena Dalli, Commissioner for Equality
- Sedat Arif, Eurocities SAF chair and deputy mayor from Malmo
- Daniel Tietze, State secretary for Integration from Berlin
- Sonia Fuertes, Barcelona Commissioner for social action and integration
- Jamen Gabriela Hrabanova, Director of the European Roma Grassroots Organisations network
You can register and find the agenda for this event on the right.
