EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/378

(2004/C 78 E/0400)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1647/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(16 May 2003)

Subject: Way in which EU funds for integrating Roma in Bulgaria and improving their living conditions are used and managed

1. Is the Commission aware that questions have been raised concerning the use of PHARE funds for the benefit of the Roma population in Bulgaria, in particular the work by the EU delegation in Sofia on the setting up of non-governmental organisations and the way in which funds are being used in the city of Plovdiv where there is the highest concentration of Roma, including in the district of Stolipinovo with its 40 000 inhabitants?

2. The following projects receive financial support from the EU: — PHARE BG9907.01.01 Access to Education’: EUR 200 000; — PHARE BG9907.01.02 ‘Urbanisation of Roma Neighbourhoods’: EUR 257 000; — PHARE BG0104.01.01 ‘Roma Population Integration’: EUR 765 000; — PHARE BG0104.01.02 ‘Roma Population Integration’: EUR 1 350 000; — PHARE BG0104.01.03 ‘Roma Population Integration’: EUR 210 000; — PHARE BG0102.06 ‘Social Integration of Roma’: EUR 2 299 000; — PHARE BG0104.02 ‘Access of Roma to Healthcare’: EUR 1 000 000; — PHARE 2001 ‘Study of the Housing Conditions of the Roma Population’: EUR 160 000. Could the Commission state, on the basis of qualitative and quantitative indicators, what contribution each of these projects has actually made to improving conditions for Roma?

3. How is transparency ensured in respect of these and future projects with regard to the integration of Roma?

4. What steps are being taken to ensure participation by Roma themselves in these projects and to prevent large numbers of decisions from being taken over their heads?

5. What improvements does the Commission consider need to be made in order to achieve better results than at present?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(16 June 2003)

The Commission has been supporting projects in favour of the Roma Community in Bulgaria since 1999. The city of Plovdiv and its district Stolinpinovo are among the beneficiaries, as the Roma population there is rather high. Some of the projects, so-called micro-projects under the Access programme, have in fact funded Roma Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the Stolipinovo quarter. These projects had the objective of encouraging the inclusion and participation of individuals and groups who risk being economically, socially or politically marginalised in the transformation process. However, the Commission itself has not set up any of these NGOs.

As regards the PHARE projects mentioned in the written question, so far only one has been finalised. The project (BG 9907 ‘Promotion of Integration of Roma’) has achieved good results. Under the component ‘Access to education and training for Roma representatives to work in public administration and police structures’ Roma policemen have been trained, a practical guide on Roma language and two elementary textbooks (including teacher guides) on Roma culture and history have been published, the textbooks have been distributed to a number of schools and teachers have been trained to use them etc. Under the component ‘Urbanisation of Roma neighbourhoods’, the infrastructure of Roma quarters was improved. The other PHARE projects are ongoing and it would be too early to assess their impact at this stage.

PHARE Projects for Roma are generally implemented in close co-operation with Roma representatives. A National Steering Committee, composed of the National Council on Ethnic and Demographic Issues and 35 Roma NGOs is responsible for overall coordination. The Commission's Delegation provides observers in the meetings of the National Steering Committee. Transparency is ensured through the obligation to publish all projects and strategies on the web pages of the relevant Ministries and the National Council on Ethnic and Demographic Issues (NCEDI), as well as through the media.

Proper involvement of Roma and their representative organisations in identification of the needs, the project design preparation and implementation is crucial to the success of these projects. To the extent possible, Roma advisers in the national administrations and governmental structures in charge of Roma or minority issues are therefore regularly consulted during the programming process. Funding priorities are discussed in the context of the frequent contacts the Commission maintains with the National Council for Ethnic and Demographic Issues which is the mandated body to co-ordinate government policies, programmes and funds related to ethnic issues, and to facilitate the dialogue and interaction between ethnic minorities, government and civil society in Bulgaria. Representatives of numerous ministries, governmental institutions as well as representatives of thirty-five non-governmental organisations of ethnic minorities are members of this body. The priorities are in line with the Framework Programme for Roma Integration adopted by the last two governments and 150 Roma NGOs. In addition consultative bodies involving NGOs are been established on various aspects of the Framework programme.

Despite these efforts, the socio-economic situation and living conditions of the Roma population remain difficult. They also face widespread discrimination. The integration of Roma in society should be the first priority, even if it is difficult to achieve visible results in the short term. This priority should be addressed within all key national policies, such as education, housing, public health and employment and combined with the necessary budgetary means. Moreover, the development of an appropriate legal framework to deal with minority issues will further increase the sustainability of a number of projects. In this context, the adoption of comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation would, for instance, be an important step forward. A very important additional aspect is to further decentralise Roma policy at the regional and national level in line with the principle of subsidiarity. The Commission has invited Bulgaria to address these issues in the framework of the recently revised Accession Partnership.