The international conference Roma Diplomacy: A Challenge for European Institutions? (December 8 - 9, 2005, Brussels) brought together European level policy makers (over 30 members of the European Parliament and many representatives of the European Commission), diplomats, academics and human rights activists from all around Europe and beyond. This conference formed a part of the second workshop of the Roma Diplomacy programme, and educational and capacity building course focusing on public diplomacy skills for Roma activists. 

The conference was opened by the President of the European Parliament Mr Josep Borrell Fontelles, and hosted for the first day by the European Parliament. In his presentation, Mr Borrell emphasised the "historical amnesia" when it comes to what he called the most discriminated minority in Europe, the Roma. 

Mr Graham Watson, Leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, said "Roma lack both a visible, vocal elite and institutions committed to protecting their rights. This translates into little or no political influence and complete under-representation at government level." He congratulated the project organisers and urged for better representation of Roma at all levels: "I believe that one of the final outcomes of the Roma Diplomacy initiative could be the formation of a 'think tank' to put Roma issues at the top of the EU agenda."

Ms Livia Jaroka, one of the five MEPs in the High Level Group of the Roma Diplomacy Programme and the chair of the conference opening session, emphasised that some of the worst exclusion faced by Roma in employment is within the European Institutions. This fact was further elaborated in the background paper of the conference, prepared by Mr Valeriu Nicolae, coordinator of the Roma Diplomacy project. Ms Jaroka said: "Anti-Gypsyism is thriving and there is very little done to stop it. There are still practically no Roma in the European Institutions or in the mainstream International NGOs." She ended her intervention with the hopes that the conference would result in recommendations to form the "basis for future actions able to reduce the unacceptable gap between Roma and the majority populations in Europe."

Professor Andre Liebich from the Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva, and Mr Jovan Kurbalija, Director of DiploFoundation, highlighted the importance of improved communication in overcoming stereotypes and simplifications. Communication is both the essence of diplomacy and the key to promoting the Roma cause on the international level. Roma diplomacy offers a unique opportunity to introduce innovative methods by using online diplomatic tools. Liebich and Kurbalija analysed the applicability of various diplomatic methods and mechanisms to Roma activities in international relations.

The conference focused on existing good initiatives and provided an environment for the exchange of views towards raising Roma issues to the European level, as recommended by the 28 April 2005 Resolution of the Parliament. Mr Jan Marinus Wiersma, Ms Katalin Levai, Mr Michael Cashman, Ms Elly de Groen-Kouwenhoven, Ms Maria Carlshamre and Mr Richard Corbett, active members of the European Parliament, expressed the need for Roma expertise and real involvement. Ms Beate Winkler, Director of the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia, proposed the creation of a Steering Committee on the European Parliament resolution, an idea which was supported by MEPs Richard Corbett and Michael Cashman. The importance of including Romani women in the work of the future Gender Institute was specifically underlined in relation to Romani women's empowerment and representation. Representatives of the European Commission took part in panels and joined discussions aimed at finding practical solution to the many problems affecting Roma, with particular focus on representation of Roma.

Mr Vladimir Spidla, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, closed the conference, underlining the need for a positive and common approach: "The creation of a highly qualified, articulate group of European Roma with diplomatic skills is NOT A CHALLENGE FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION - it is for us a very useful ASSET in our efforts to deal with that challenge of Roma inequality and social exclusion. And I believe that together we will be able to move ahead." 

This conference formed part of the Roma Diplomacy project which aims to train young Roma rights activists as public diplomats with the skills needed to represent their communities on the European and international level. A series of recommendations will be presented to the European institutions by the Roma Diplomacy participants, as a follow-up to the conference.

For full conference speeches and transcripts please contact:

Valeriu Nicolae
Roma Diplomacy Project Coordinator
European Roma Information Office
Av. Eduard Lacomble 17, Brussels
Tel + 32 27333462 Fax +32 27333875
Mob +32 476538194

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