News in English     | 31.01.2018. 13:01 |

Better integration of Roma important for progress in EU integration process

FENA Sanda Hrkić

SARAJEVO, January 31 (FENA) – The Head of the EU Delegation to BiH and EU Special Representative in BiH Lars Gunnar-Wigemark said today in Sarajevo that addressing the issue of situation of the Roma minority in BiH was certainly a matter of national interest and is also important in the context of BiH and other Western Balkans countries’ European Union integration.

He thanked the state minister Semiha Borovac, as well as the Roma community in BiH, for the efforts they had made so far, and said there was a lot more to be done for the Roma population. He, therefore, noted the insufficient number of Roma children in the pre-school education and the high rate of dropouts.

On the example of highly educated Roma, he said, we can see that they are more successful and integrated into BiH society than those who are not highly educated. He also mentioned the high rate of unemployment, for which he said it was much higher among the Roma than the general average rate in BiH.

Ambassador Wigemark emphasized the example of the City of Bijeljina for which he says was the leader in the process of better integration of Roma into the BiH society, and the Roma community there is an integral part of the city.

“The Roma should not be seen as a separate part, a minority. They are, in fact, an integral part of any society, in this country, region, Europe,” he said.

Today’s meeting was attended by representatives from various levels of government, international organizations and civil society. A consultant for issues of Roma in the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations, Marta Garcia Fidalgo, said their support was needed to better integrate Roma.

She stressed that Roma integration was one of the key, fundamental principles of the enlargement processes. She, therefore, told the leaders of all levels of government in BiH that if they wanted to make progress in the process of joining the EU, they must make progress and address issues related to Roma integration as well.

BiH Minister of Human Rights and Refugees Semiha Borovac emphasized that discrimination, prejudice and exclusion from the social life continue to bother the Roma in both BiH and Europe and warned of the importance of a greater political engagement and dedication to the issue of Roma inclusion in BiH and adequate allocation of funds from the budget for the needs of that population.

The Chairman of the Roma Committee at the BiH Council of Ministers, Mujo Fafulić, is grateful to international organizations and authorities in BiH (especially the ministry) for money allocated to address the problems of the Roma, but also says their problems still have not been solved.

The EU Delegation, i.e. the Office of the EU Special Representative, hosted the fourth BiH Roma Inclusion Seminar, organized in cooperation with the Roma representatives in BiH.

(FENA)
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