1. EUROPEAN PLATFORM FOR ROMA INCLUSION 8th Meeting of the European Platform for Roma Inclusion 27th June 2013 Brussels Zoltán Kovács Minister of State for Social Inclusion HUNGARY

2. Axioms The substance of the new conception is multi-dimensionality: that is to say that education-, social-, employment- and health-related problems are to be improved simultaneously. Only such a complex and multidisciplinary approach can bring positive and qualitative results in disadvantaged areas. National Social Inclusion Strategy 2011-2020 The Roma community is an opportunity – a hidden resource for the countrys economy. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (7 May 2013, Roma Affairs Council)

3. The Hungarian paradigm shift Anti-discrimination – pragmatism Long-term problems – long-term solutions Positive action With a view to ensuring full equality in practice, the principle of equal treatment shall not prevent any Member State from maintaining or adopting specific measures to prevent or compensate for disadvantages linked to racial or ethnic origin. (Council Directive 2000/43/EC, Article 5) Think beyond Focus on children

4. Preliminaries 2003 - Budapest Conference - Hungary is a founding member of the Roma Decade Programme 2011 - Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU 7 April 2011 – 5th Meeting of the European Platform for Roma Inclusion in Budapest HU initiated the European Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies HU was the first EU Member State to adopt the National Social (Roma) Inclusion Strategy (NSIS)

5. Basic principles Integration through active participation involvement, not coercion the Hungarian meaning of INCLUSION (felzárkózás vs. felzárkóztatás) Result-orientation Comprehensive, multi-dimensional approach Innovation and sustainability Sure start, safe future: life-long assistance, from conception to a secure living Programmes based on personal responsibility and participation Principle of communal participation and support Well-founded planning, regular monitoring of efficiency

6. Best practices Early childhood education Sure Start Childrens Centres (41 centres, 5 257 children) State + EU-funded projects Education Integrative Pedagogical System since 2003 (1 600 institutions, 300 000 pupils and 13 000 teachers) – 23.3 million For the Road three-level scholarship package (9 646 new entrants, 5 439 participants of Roma origin, 5 558 mentors in 2012/ 2013) – 6.85 million Roma College System (5 colleges, more than 100 students) – 822 000 A groundbreaking initiative – Gandhi High School altogether 17 000 children, mostly Roma

7. Best practices Employment and training Public employment scheme (providing employment to 100 000 people, out of whom 54 800 people are of Roma origin in 2012 – more than 450 million) Social land programme Social/community employment (providing employment to 1 400 people – more than 580 000) + educational programmes Housing Complex settlement programme (22 settlements so far – 19.5 million)

8. Social development – local practices Rozsály located in one of Hungarys most disadvantaged areas social cohesion and peaceful co-existence between Roma and non-Roma inhabitants. an exemplary, self-sustaining Hungarian village, with no unemployment social land programme public employment programme Bódvalenke fresco village, unique in world terms and a tourist sensation

9. Unemployment rate in the 15-61 age range

10. Proportion of tax payers in the 15-61 age range

11. Monitoring system A separate monitoring system has recently been established to follow the implementation of programmes in a unified framework Monitoring is assisted by the social inclusion indicator system developed by an independent research institution and with data uploaded by the Central Statistical Office by the end of the first half of 2013 The Interministerial Committee for Social Inclusion and Roma Affairs has also set up a separate Monitoring Working Group with the cooperation of the public administration departments concerned

12. Partners Forums for discussion Roma Affairs Council (CET) Roma Coordination Council (ROK-T) Evaluation Committee of National Strategy Making Things Better for Our Children! (ÉB) Committee for Social Inclusion and Roma Affairs (TFCTB) National Human Rights Working Group Anti-segregation Roundtable Role of churches Stakeholders with a long tradition of promoting solidarity and experience as promoters of inclusion, who have been engaging in charity activities and have also been actively participating in the work of relevant bodies and committees Christian Network of Special Colleges for the Roma

13. Future – Think beyond 2020 The Roma Decade and EU-related Roma affairs are being brought into harmony, because solving issues affecting the Roma is a long-term task that needs effective assets operating in the long-run Integrated and continuous assessment and renewal

14. National Social Inclusion Strategy 2.0 Updated version to be launched in December 2013 various approaches and solutions according to the needs of each village and region – and nationwide – in order to promote social inclusion practices and methods also recommended at EU level, shareable know-how

15. To be continued… Zoltán Kovács, PhD Minister of State for Social Inclusion Ministry of Human Resources HUNGARY