Skopje, 15 July 2025 (MIA) – Minister without portfolio in charge of integration and implementation of the Roma Inclusion Strategy 2022-2030, Shaban Saliu, presented an overview of the past year’s accomplishments at Tuesday’s press conference, underscoring that significant steps have been made toward the systemic integration of Roma in all aspects of life. He highlighted education as the area with the most progress, alongside work on improving access to healthcare and developing targeted housing projects to ensure dignified and affordable living conditions.

“Our country is a leader, both in the Balkans and in Europe, when it comes to supporting the integration of the Roma community into educational institutions,” Minister Shaban Saliu said at a government press conference.

He noted that opportunities are available for Roma, with open pathways for direct and systemic inclusion across all sectors of society. “They are becoming leaders in every area. We have accurate data on enrollment and employment. No other country in the world has a Roma minister, in this regard, we are leading,” Saliu noted.

He also stated that two budget programs have been secured to support Roma education policies. The total funding allocated for the implementation of the National Action Plan for Education stands at Mden 42,442,000, which accounts for 60% of the country’s total Roma inclusion budget.

Saliu said that the number of scholarships for Roma students in secondary education increased to 1,200 in the 2024/2025 school year, up from 920.

Enrollment in higher education is also on the rise, with over 50% of Roma graduates continuing their studies. For the upcoming academic year, the Ministry has issued a call for 150 scholarships for Roma university students. A particularly encouraging trend, according to the Minister, is the growing number of Roma women pursuing higher education.

Saliu underlined the significant progress in improving healthcare access for the Roma community. In 2024, 19 health mediators have been hired in different municipalities, with an additional Mden 6 million allocated for the recruitment of 20 more mediators.

As part of a Council of Europe project involving all signatory countries of the Poznan Declaration, including the Republic of North Macedonia, numerous activities are being carried out to address issues related to housing and property rights in Roma settlements, as well as education, employment, and civil documentation.

He outlined the capital projects implemented by the Ministry of Transport aimed at providing housing for socially vulnerable groups and improving communal infrastructure in municipalities with predominantly Roma populations. He reported that by early 2025, construction will be completed on 28 buildings comprising a total of 1,527 apartments.

During 2024, five Roma Information Centers were active and functioning within the Centers for Social Work in Negotino, Gostivar, Kichevo, Tetovo, and Shuto Orizari.

Saliu noted that measures are being taken to combat antigypsyism, which he described as a serious obstacle to the social inclusion of the Roma community and identified as a strategic priority in the national Roma Inclusion Strategy.

Minister Saliu reminded that in November last year, a donor conference was organized to mobilize support for the Roma community. The event highlighted strategic projects such as the construction of 1,001 housing units for homeless individuals, the establishment of a Roma cultural center, employment initiatives through skills retraining, and efforts to promote digital inclusion among Roma.

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