12/04/18 • European Parliament A5G1
ROMA CONTRIBUTION TO A HEALTHY EUROPE
Co-Hosted by
MEP Mircea DIACONU, ALDE
MEP Soraya POST, S&D
Organised by the European Public Health Alliance
Taking stock of the past, the event aimed to highlight Roma contribution to a healthy Europe, promoting positive practices to combat inequalities in Health and ECD as part of a post 2020 EU Strategy which delivers on health and early childhood development.
By contributing to efforts to successfully implement the current EU Framework and the National Roma Integration Strategies, it also aimed to provide the European Commission with inputs into the new strategy, which would be adequately supported by financial allocations and appropriately respond to the challenges of Roma and their families.
Programme
14:00 – 14:20
Welcoming remarks
Mircea DIACONU, Member of the European Parliament
Soraya POST, Member of the European Parliament
14:20 – 14:35
SETTING THE SCENE
Health inequalities in the context of future EU health policy – the Roma case
Nina RENSHAW – Secretary General, European Public Health Alliance (EPHA)
Maja JOVANOVIC – Program Coordinator, Public Health Program, Open Society Foundations
Szilvia PALLAGHY – Program Officer, Early Childhood Program, Open Society Foundations
14:35 – 14:50
FROM THE GRASSROOTS
Sorin’s story, a 12 year old Roma boy from Romania
14:50 – 16:30
Debate
Rodrigo BALLESTER – Cabinet Member, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport
Xavier PRATS MONNÉ – Director General for Health and Food Safety, European Commission
Jana BALAZOVA – Policy officer, Non discrimination and Roma Coordination Unit, DG Justice and Consumers, European Commission
Dominique BÉ – Responsible for Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction, DG Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion, European Commission
Cosmin BOIANGIU – Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Representation of Romania to EU
Agota KOVACS – Senior Sector Officer – Roma Inclusion, Norway Grants
Bianca FARAGAU-TAVARES – Policy Advisor, Eurocities
16:30 – 17:10
Q&A Session
17:10 – 17:30
Conclusions and closing remarks
Rozalia-Dana VARGA – Counselor to the Prime Minister of Romania
Soraya POST, Member of the European Parliament
Mircea DIACONU, Member of the European Parliament
17.30
Cocktail and Roma music concert
Rodica TUDOR – singer
Nicu CIRSTEA – piano player
Concept Note
Inequalities in healthcare and early childhood development should be urgently addressed. Due to antigypsyism, a specific form of discrimination targeting Roma, many of the Roma living in Europe see their fundamental rights violated on a daily basis. Antigypsyism affects the fair and equitable Roma access to public services, including healthcare and early childhood development.
In October 2017, the European Parliament adopted the report “Fundamental rights aspects in Roma integration in the EU: fighting antigypsyism”, urging both the European authorities and Member States to adopt specific measures in six fields of action, including securing equal rights and fighting antigypsyism, monitoring the National Roma Integration Strategies; and putting antigypsyism at the forefront of an improved post-2020 Strategy.
Doing so will be an important step to further strengthen the contribution of Roma to a Healthy Europe and to Europe’s heritage. With an estimated population of 10-12 million, being the largest European ethnic minority, Roma can draw on a history going back thousands of years, with their own language (Romani ćhib, which includes several dialects) and culture, composed of a mosaic of traditions and customs. Just imagine the positive difference that Roma children, able to develop their full potential and creativity, could make to the future of Europe, if we can ensure they can have equal access to quality health and early childhood development services.
The Aim of the Meeting
Taking stock of the past, the event aims to highlight the Roma contribution to Europe’s heritage, while promoting positive practices to overcome inequalities as part of a post 2020 EU Strategy which delivers on health and early childhood development. By contributing to efforts to successfully implement the current EU Framework and the National Roma Integration Strategies, the meeting also aims to provide the European Commission with inputs into the new strategy, which should be adequately resourced and developed to appropriately respond to the challenges of Roma and their families.
Who should attend?
The meeting aims to gather different stakeholders: representatives of the European Parliament, the European Commission, Member States, European and EU-level civil society, international Institutions and members of the Roma community, to increase understanding about the lessons learned from the implementation of the current EU Roma Framework, discuss key challenges in acknowledging the Roma contribution to Europe’s heritage and tackling inequalities in Roma health and early childhood development. The event is part of the EU Roma week in the European Parliament.
