Roma integration is a complex process that requires the concerted effort of all stakeholders. A key component of successful Roma integration is ensuring that adequate resources are allocated to meet the needs of Roma communities. This requires effective and responsive budgeting practices. Therefore, the Regional Cooperation Council Roma Integration Action Team and the European Union and Council of Europe Joint Programme “ROMACTED” organised an event on Roma Responsive Budgeting: Promising Practices and Sustainable Models of Operation. The event was held on 24 May 2022 in Skopje, North Macedonia, and online via the Zoom, with around 50 attendees in total.

The main objective of the joint event was to identify and discuss existing practices applying the principles of Roma responsive budgeting at local and central level of governance, assess their potential for sustainability and multiplication and exchange experiences on the challenges and successes of these practices, in order to encourage further application and development of Roma responsive budgeting.

The event addressed the need for institutional coordination and public participation in planning, budgeting and implementing mainstream and targeted measures relevant for Roma. Central and local stakeholders, including representatives from Ministries of Finance as well other line ministry professionals attended, alongside NRCPs municipal authorities; civil society organizations that work closely with communities, individual consultants who provide expertise across different fields and other relevant stakeholders from the Western Balkans region. They all helped shape directions for work as per their expertise and capacities.

The Guidelines for Roma Responsive Budgeting resulted from the work of the Intergovernmental Working Group for Roma Responsive Budgeting supported by the Regional Cooperation Council’s Roma Integration Action Team, with the participation of the Ministries of Finance and the National Roma Contact Points. The Guidelines for Roma responsive budgeting were officially endorsed at the Summit of the Leaders of the Western Balkans in Sofia in November 2020.

 

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Agenda