European Roma Information Office in Brussels

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From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 18:09:19 +0300 (EEST)
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Subject: European Roma Information Office in Brussels

From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>

Original sender: Ariel Eliyahu <[email protected]>

 European Roma Information Office in Brussels



From: Josephine Verspaget <[email protected]>
 
European Roma Information Office in Brussels
 
Two weeks ago, on Friday 8 March, a group of Roma representatives from
several countries in Europe, came together in a meeting in  Den Haag,
the Netherlands, organised by two Dutch Non Governmental
Organisations, Stichting DOEN and Cordaid, to discuss the  start of a
European Roma information Office in Brussels, Belgium, in the heart of
the European Union. The aim of this European Roma information office
is to make a reality of the legitimate rights of the Romany people in
Europe.
 
Roma, and all related groups, are the largest minority of Europe. They
live all over Europe, in all the member states of the European Union,
and in all the accession countries. Despite efforts by international
organisations, such as the Council of Europe and OSCE - and some
governments, most of the Roma in Europe, inside and outside the
European Union, live in  circumstances comparable with the conditions
of poor people in slum areas in developing countries. Lack of housing,
jobs, education and access to health services are daily facts for
millions of Roma. Discrimination and exclusion from society seem to be
normal for the Romany population.
 
The European Roma Information Office will provide factual information
to such bodies of the European Union as the Commission and the
European Parliament and other organisations, regarding the Human
Rights of the Roma. This information will include progress in
attaining their Political, Social and Economic Rights in the EU member
states and in those of associated partners.
 
In addition to information provision, the main tasks of the Office
will be monitoring (as a watchdog) and activities in the field of
conflict prevention, conflict resolution and post-conflict
rehabilitation. The European Roma information Office will concentrate
on the enlargement process, the implementation of the Race Equality
Directive and on migration and refugees, as well as on the funds and
programmes available for their implementation.
 
The Office will serve as a connecting point between  Roma grassroots
organisations, the Roma network,  Roma national and international
organisations, and international organisations, such as the Council of
Europe, OSCE, European Roma Rights Centre and so on. The European Roma
information office will also act as a clearing house on European Union
related issues to the Roma organisations, in order to create mutual
interest.
 
The start of the European information office is foreseen in 2003.
 
A small working group is created to tackle practical issues in the
next months. 
 
Temporary Contact point: [email protected]

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