Europese Beweging:
Conference "EU Projects in Favour of the Roma Community"

As part of its contribution to 2010, the European Year Against Poverty and Social Exclusion, DG Education and Culture (EAC) is organising a conference and exhibition to discuss how EU programmes help the Roma minority.

500 people will meet at the Charlemagne building for the event which is based on a selection of Education, Culture and Youth best examples of projects related to the Roma communities funded through the DG EAC programmes and structural funds run by DGs EMPL and REGIO.

The Commission has designated 2010 to be the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion.

The Roma population is one of the biggest ethnic minorities in the EU with millions living in many Member States. Their situation is characterized by persistent discrimination and far-reaching social exclusion; they are at greatest risk of being poor and unemployed. European and national opinion surveys show that many Europeans have negative views on this group which are often based on stereotypes and prejudice. Other traditional European ethnic minorities in Member States share their situation.

Many of th e key areas for Roma inclusion - education, employment, social inclusion, health services, gender equality or infrastructure and urban planning - are mainly or entirely national responsibilities. The Commission is committed to supporting Member States in implementing policies to improve the situation of the Roma Community.

The conference "EU Projects in Favour of the Roma Community" will take place in the Charlemagne building, 170 Rue de la Loi, Brussels.

The event is open to the press upon registration of journalists at the conference web site: http://roma-conference.eu/web/roma/home

European Commission's website on Education and Training:

http://ec.europa.eu/education/index_en.htm

European Commission's website on Culture:

http://ec.europa.eu/culture/index_en.htm

European Commission's website on Youth:

http://ec.europa.eu/youth/index_en.htm

Commissioner Vassiliou's website:

http://www.ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/vassiliou/index_en.htm

• - 

  I-058087 VNR: Europe's Forgotten Citizens - Defending Roma Rights in the European Union (long version)
• - 

  I-058853 Memo-clip: Situation of Roma in the EU

Dennis Abbott +32.2.295.92.58 dennis.abbott@ec.europa.eu

Dina Avraam +32 2 295 96 67 dina.avraam@ec.europa.eu

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