EU keeps track of Serbia's progress concerning Roma

BELGRADE - The EU is keeping track of Serbia's progress in improving the position of the Roma community, especially after the start of the accession talks, according to what was said at the conference entitled Position of the Roma in the Decade of Roma Inclusion (2005-2015) on Tuesday.

Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport said at the meeting, which was organized by the Serbian government council for gender equality and the Roma Women's Network, that the government needed to be more active in improving the position of the Roma in order to implement the national strategy Serbia adopted in 2009.

The EU has so far donated more than EUR 50 million for programmes that provide direct and indirect assistance to the Roma in various areas, he noted.

Head of the gender equality council Stana Bozovic said the Roma were the largest and most threatened ethnic minority in Serbia, adding that 750 Roma settlements were registered in 166 local communities, but that only 90 municipalities had local action plans.

UN Resident Coordinator Irena Vojackova-Sollorano said there had been visible progress in improving the position of the Roma, listing as an example the increase in the number of Roma girls enrolled in primary schools and better care for the Roma women before and after childbirth.

Photo Tanjug, S. Ilic