International Roma Conference

The Foundation for a Civic Hungary organised, in collaboration with the Centre for European Studies, held a conference entitled ‘The Inclusion of the Roma in a European Dimension’. The conference took place in the Szent Adalbert Education Centre in Esztergom, Hungary on 24-26 November 2010.

Zoltán Balog, the Secretary of State for Inclusion explained efforts of the current Hungarian government to improve the integration of Roma and to prepare an EU integration strategy during the Hungarian Presidency in 2011. Ilona Negro from the European Commission outlined the Commission’s policies. Lívia Járóka, MEP, in her video message explained recent developments in the European Parliament. Flórián Farkas, commissioner of the Hungarian minister for Roma inclusion, spoke in more detail about work with the Roma.

Subsequent speakers included representatives of Hungarian churches, who movingly described their pastoral work with the Roma community. President of the Esztergom County György Popovics explained local efforts. Lucia Nicholsonová, the state secretary for inclusion of the Slovak government, spoke about the situation in Slovakia. Georgi Krastev from the Bulgarian government described the situation in his country, while Vít Novotný from CES provided a summary of EU policies.