Fighting Roma Poverty, Helping Roma Inclusion Seminar on different approaches to social and economic integration of Roma 6 October Brussels Presentation by: Office of the Plenipotentiary of the Slovak Republic for Roma communities

Social inclusion of Marginalized Roma Communities Current situation and prospective from the point of view of the Office of Plenipotentiary of the Slovak Republic for Roma Communities

The Office of Plenipotentiary of the SR for Roma Communities  An advisory body of the Government of the Slovak Republic on solution related to the Roma communities Mission: a) Providing proposals and application of measures in cooperation with state central authorities, local authorities and NGO´s b) Preparation of materials and statements for government sessions c) Consultations on office activities with the deputy prime minister d) Preparation and program arrangements related to improvement of overall conditions for members of the Roma communities in the large society

Present status per priority subjects  Priority subjects: housing, education, health, employment and social affairs  Housing Current status Current status Solutions: Solutions: Construction of low cost municipality housingConstruction of low cost municipality housing Grand scheme of the Office of the PlenipotentiaryGrand scheme of the Office of the Plenipotentiary Regulation (EU) No. 437/2010 of the EP and of the Council of 19 May 2010, amending Regulation (EC) No 1080/2006 on the European Regional Development Fund as regards the eligibility of housing interventions in favor of marginalized communitiesRegulation (EU) No. 437/2010 of the EP and of the Council of 19 May 2010, amending Regulation (EC) No 1080/2006 on the European Regional Development Fund as regards the eligibility of housing interventions in favor of marginalized communities

Present status per priority subjects  Education Current status Current status Solution Solution OPRC is preparing a program proposal on problems solution of Roma education and increasing non success at schoolsOPRC is preparing a program proposal on problems solution of Roma education and increasing non success at schools OPRC participates on different project and programs of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Culture and other authoritiesOPRC participates on different project and programs of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Culture and other authorities  Health Current status Current status Solution Solution Program of health support for marginalized Roma PopulationProgram of health support for marginalized Roma Population

Present status per priority subjects  Social issues and Employment Current status Current status High unemployment ratioHigh unemployment ratio Terrain social works programsTerrain social works programs Solution Solution Development of employment opportunitiesDevelopment of employment opportunities Sustainability of terrain social work programsSustainability of terrain social work programs Support for development of Local community centersSupport for development of Local community centers

Key resources for adopting the National strategy on social inclusion  Government Manifesto  Midterm conception on development of Roma minority in the Slovak Republic for years 2008 – 2013  Strategies at the level of self governing regions  National strategy on regional development  Decade on Roma inclusion 2005 – 2015  Strategy of society development (till 2030)

Main thesis of the Manifesto related to Roma inclusion  Better living standards  Development of new employment opportunities  More simple and transparent access to the EU financial resources  Improvement of legislative framework related to the urban planning, construction regulations and ownership  Better access to social housing for marginalized communities  Consistent implementation of human rights for marginalized and left behind social groups  Development of conditions for representation, maintenance and development of own identity  Development of long term conception on prevention and support of culture and education of minorities including Roma community

Main thesis of the Manifesto related to Roma inclusion  Increasing impact and competences of the Plenipotentiary for Roma communities and his office  Active support and full participation of Roma population on social, cultural and political life  Determination of more strict and exact conditions for eligibility of receiving social welfare  Further development of a network of terrain social workers  Preparation of legislation on socially excluded communities

Cooperation of legislation on socially excluded communities  Presidency of V4 countries in a field of Roma issues program: program: Continuation and preparation of the document „Central European Roma Strategy“Continuation and preparation of the document „Central European Roma Strategy“ Continuation and strengthening coordination mechanism of V4 in the field of social integration of Roma populationContinuation and strengthening coordination mechanism of V4 in the field of social integration of Roma population Continuation in regular exchange if experiences and implementation effects of action plansContinuation in regular exchange if experiences and implementation effects of action plans Strengthening coordination during Decade implementationStrengthening coordination during Decade implementation

Financial resources for social inclusion  Grand schemes  Resources from EU funds (ERDF and ESF) Activities and implementation by the specialized Department of Coordination of HP MRC at OPRC Activities and implementation by the specialized Department of Coordination of HP MRC at OPRC

Horizontal priority MRC  NSRF Objective is to improve conditions of MRC with main topics such as education, employment, health, housing, eliminate poverty, discrimination and to support gender equality Direct link to 6 operational programs – Regional OP, OP Employment and social inclusion, OP Education, OP Competitiveness and Economic Growth, Environment OP, OP Health Direct link to 6 operational programs – Regional OP, OP Employment and social inclusion, OP Education, OP Competitiveness and Economic Growth, Environment OP, OP Health Demand oriented projects with indirect impact on MRC Demand oriented projects with direct impact on MRC Complex approach (Local Strategies) Indicative allocation for implementation of complex approach is at min EUR Indicative allocation for implementation of complex approach is at min EUR

Local Strategies of Complex Approach (LSCA)  Call for proposals to apply for financial support of LSCA Announced on 4 December 2008 Announced on 4 December 2008 Justified on 16 September 2009 Justified on 16 September 2009 Closed on 31 January 2010 Closed on 31 January 2010  objective: increasing employment and level of education for members of MRC and improvement of their living standards

Local Strategies of Complex Approach  257 applications received applying for ,73 €  152 approved applications applying for ,73 €

Local Strategies of Complex Approach Approved LSCA from a regional perspective

Local Strategies of Complex Approach Indicative allocation NUTS 3 (€) approved project plans (number) Approved LSCA (€) ROP min , ,40 OP ZaSI , , ,31 OP V , , , ,03 OP ŽP , , , ,30 OP KaHR , , , ,95 OP Z , , , ,74 Total: , ,73

Implementation of approved LSCA  Preparation and launching Calls for proposals by participating Managing authorities and Implementation bodies Implementation LSCA Authorities at the central level (OPRC and Ministries) Local self governments Financing

Thank you for your attention Address: Office of the Plenipotentiary of the Slovak government for Roma communities Nám. slobody 1 Bratislava Slovak republic Mail: