The EU Roma Summit
The EU Roma Summit, held on September 16th, 2008 in Brussels, has been one of the most important events regarding Roma in Europe. For the first time top level European politicians and decision-makers gathered with Roma organizations and activists in order to openly discuss how to overcome exclusion, racism and deprivation that still oppress the Roma people. The event brought together more than 400 representatives of EU institutions, national governments, parliaments and civil society including various Roma organisations.
ERIO (European Roma Information Office) organised a preparatory meeting on Monday 15th at the European and Social Committee premises. ERIO accomplished its goal to gather Roma speakers, chairs, rapporteurs and key activists participating to the Roma Summit in order to discuss priorities to be raised the following day and coordinate the interventions. Ivan Ivanov, ERIO’s Executive Director stated: “We wanted to come to the Summit with a clear message for the European institutions”. During the meeting, ERIO has been one of the most active Roma organisations. ERIO was present with its own information desk, where informative and advocacy documents were distributed to all the participants: its Newsletter, e-news, statements and recommendation papers were collected and read by an interested audience. Its Executive Director, Ivan Ivanov, also chaired a very lively panel, that saw the committed intervention of EU Commissioner for Freedom, Justice and Security Jaques Barrot. ERIO is actually involved in the follow up of the European Roma Summit and will continue calling for the adoption of a European Roma Policy.
