Skopje, 19 September 2024 (MIA) - Minister in charge of integration and implementation of the Roma Decade, Shaban Saliu, participated in the Fifth Ministerial Meeting on Roma Integration 2024 in Berlin, organized by the German government. 

Education, employment, access to health services, resolving housing issues and dealing with anti-gypsyism were the key topics of the meeting.

"Although the Strategy has been in place for five years, there are significant challenges that need to be overcome. When it comes to the Roma, it is necessary to work with the Roma, because they know best what they need and how their situation can be improved. The inclusion of Roma in social processes is a key moment. Only through the active participation of the Roma, we can achieve true integration and create conditions for a better life," Saliu said in his address.

Representatives from the Human Rights Commission stressed the importance of protecting the human rights of the Roma community. The European Commission's Olivér Várhelyi spoke of the EU's support for these efforts, while Poland's Deputy Ambassador, Paweł Gronow, highlighted progress in improving the rights of Roma in Poland. The European Commission's Marta Garcia Fidalgo also stressed the importance of this initiative.

"The purpose of the meeting was to review the results of the Declaration so far and determine the next steps in critical areas such as education, housing, personal identification documentation, the fight against discrimination and increasing employment among Roma. The meeting was an important step for evaluating the progress so far and setting new goals for the future integration of the Roma community in the societies of the region," Saliu's Office said in a press release. 

Photo: Minister Shaban Saliu's Office