This EPHA briefing focuses on Roma health in the framework of the European Semester. It looks at the Country Specific Recommendations (CSRs) in conjunction with National Roma Integration Strategies (NRIS) and identifies gaps in implementation.
Five main conclusions emerge from this analysis:
- The European Semester alone is not a sufficient mechanism to achieve changes on the ground
- In order to create adequate conditions for comprehensive Roma inclusion, the NRIS need to be streamlined across all policy areas, followed by an intersectoral approach and better monitoring on national level
- Health remains the most underfunded area of the NRIS and tackling health inequalities endured by Roma remains an ongoing challenge
- If the European Semester is to remain a key precedent to define priorities for social and health investments, a better coordination with the NRIS is needed.
- The integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in all relevant policy frameworks, implementing and monitoring instruments are of particular relevance for Roma.